) 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 

D    000  880  701     8 


eol      S.  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE, 

r-"  ^  BUREAU  OP  SOILS— MILTON  WHITNEY,  Chiet 

^  

i^f  5    lURVEY  OF  THE  CACHE  VALLEY 

AREA,  UTAH. 


J.  W.  NELSON  AND  E.  C.  ECIQLINN. 


MACY  H.  LAPHAM,  Inspector,  Western  Division. 


[Advance  Sheets— Field  Operations  of  the  Bureau  of  Soils,  1913.] 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE. 

1915 


BLBEAU  OF  SOILS. 

Milton  Whitnky,  Chief  of  Bureau. 
Albert  G.  Rice,  Chief  Cleric. 

SOIL   SURVEY. 

CuETis  F.  Marbut,  In  Charge. 
G.  W.  Baumann,  Execittive  Assistant. 

COMMITTEE   ON    THE    CORRELATION    AND    CLASSIFICATION    OF    SOILS. 

Cl'utis  F.  Marbut,  Chairman. 
Hugh  H.  Bennett,  Inspector,  Soutberu  Division. 
W.  Edward  Hearn,  Inspector,  Southern  Division. 
Thomas  D.  Rice,  Inspector,  Northern  Division. 
W.  E.  McLendon,  Inspector,  Northern  Division. 
Macy  H.  Lapham.  Inspector,  AVestern  Division. 

J.  W.  McKericher,  Secretary. 


Issued  June  20,  1915. 


U.  S.  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE, 

BUREAU  OF  SOILS— MILTON  WHITNEY,  Chiet 


m 


SOIL  SURVEY  OF  THE  CACHE  VALLEY 
AREA,  UTAH. 


J.  W.  NELSOX  AND  E.  C.  ECK^LIXX. 


MACY  H.  LAPH.AJM,  Inspector,  Western  Division. 


[Advance  Sheets— Field  Operations  of  the  Bureau  of  Sotls,  1913.] 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE. 

1915 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL. 


United  States  Depai:tment  of  Agriculture, 

Bureau  of  Soils, 
Washington^  D.  C,  November  ^^i  lOlJ^. 
Sir:  In  the  extension  of  soil-survey  work  in  the  State  of  Utah  a 
survey  was  undertaken  and  completed  of  the  Cache  Valley  area  dur- 
ing the  field  season  of  1913. 

I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  herewith  the  manuscript  report  and 
map  covering  this  area,  and  to  recommend  their  publication  as  ad- 
vance sheets  of  Field  Operations  of  the  Bureau  of  Soils  for  1913,  as 
provided  by  law. 

Respectfully, 

MiLTox  "Whitxey, 

Chief  of  Bureau. 
Hon.  D.  F.  Houston, 

Secretary  of  Agriculture. 


CONTEXTS, 


Page. 
Soil  Survey  of  the  Cache  Valley  area,  Utah.     By  J.  W.  Nelson  and 

E.  C.  Eckmann 5 

Descriptiou  of  the  area 5 

Climate 8 

Agriculture 10 

Dry   farming 11 

Alfalfa  and  grasses 12 

Sugar  beets 14 

Fruit   culture 16 

Melons  and  vegetables . 19 

Hogs 20 

Poultry 20 

Beekeeping 20 

Dairying 20 

Horse    raising 21 

Soils 21 

Avon  series 25 

Avon  gravelly  silt  loam 26 

Avon   silt    loam 27 

Avon  gravelly  silty  clay  loam 27 

Avon  silty  clay  loam 28 

Sterling  series 29 

Sterling  gravelly  coarse  sandy  loam 30 

Sterling  gravelly  sandy  loam 30 

Sterling  fine  sandy  loam 31 

Sterling    loam 32 

Trenton  series 33 

Trenton  fine  sandy  loam 33 

Trenton  loam 36 

Trenton  clay  loam 37 

Trenton  silty  clay  loam 37 

Trenton  clay 38 

Millville  series 39 

Millville  gravelly  loam 40 

Millville  loam 40 

Millville  silty  clay  loam 42 

Preston    series 43 

Preston  fine  sand 43 

Richmond    series 43 

Richmond  gravelly  loam 44 

Richmond  silty  clay  loam 44 

Blackrock   series 45 

Blackrock  gravelly  loam 46 

3 


4  CONTENTS. 

Soil  Survky  of  thk  Cache  Vallky  ahka.  Utah — Continued. 

Soils — Continued.  Page. 

Ilyruni  series . 46 

Ilyruni  gravelly  fine  sandy  loam 47 

Hyruni  gravelly  loam 48 

Ilyrum  loam 48 

Hyrnm  silt  loam 49 

Salt  Lake  series 50 

Salt  Lake  loam 50 

Salt  Lake  silt  loam 51 

Salt  Lake  silty  clay  loam 52 

Cache    series 53 

Cache    clay 53 

Meudon    series 54 

Mendon  fine  sandy  loam 54 

Mendon  gravelly  loam 55 

Mendon  loam 56 

Mendon  clay  loam 57 

Mendon  silty  clay  loam 58 

Logan   series 50 

Logan  fine  sand 59 

Logan  gravelly  fine  sandy  loam GO 

Logan  loam 61 

Logan  silt  loam 61 

Logan  clay 62 

Miscellaneous  material 63 

Rough  stony  laud 63 

Irrigation 63 

Drainage i 65 

Alkali 06 

Summary 68 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


PLATES. 

Page. 
Pl.\te     I.  Fig.  1. — ^Artesian  well  on  soils  of  the  Trenton  series  west  of 

Logan.     Fig.  2. — View  in  Cache  Valley  from  point  south- 
west of  Logan 16 

II.  Fig.  1. — View  in  vicinity  of  Logan.     Fig.  2. — Finer  stratified 

Bonneville  Lake  sediments  near  Ilyrum 16 

III.  Fig.  1. — Sugar  beets  on  soils  of  the  Trenton  series.     Fig.  2. — 

Porus  stratum  underlying  soils  of  the  Ilyrum  series 16 

IV.  Oats  on  Logan  loam  near  Paradise 16 

FIGURE. 

Fig.  1.  Sketch  niajt  showing  location  of  the  Cache  Valley  area.  Ttah 5 

MAP. 

S(m1  ma  p.  Cache  Valley  sheet.  T'tah. 


SOIL  SURVEY  OF  THE  CACHE  VALLEY  AREA,  UTAH. 

By  J.  W.  NELSON  and  E.  C.  ECKMANN. 
DESCRIPTION    OF   THE    AREA. 


Cache  Valley  lies  in  the  northern  part  of  Utah  and  extends  into 
Idaho.  In  shape  it  is  an  irregular  oval,  with  its  long  axis  north  and 
south.  The  maximum  width,  about  19-|  miles,  is  attained  at  the 
Utah-Idaho  boundary.  From  this  point  the  valley  narrows  both 
north  and  south.  About  two-thirds  of  the  valley,  a  segment  44  miles 
in  length,  lies  in  Utah,  and  it  is  this  part  which  is  covered  by  this 
survey.    It  contains  450  square  miles,  or  288.000  acres. 

Xo  base  map  was  available  for  the  plotting  of  the  soil  and  the 
base  map  used  was  made  by  plane-table 
traverse. 

Cache  Valley  is  one  of  about  sixty  of 
the  subsidiary  valleys  included  within  the 
physiographic  province  known  as  the 
Great  Basin.  Formerly  it  was  occupied 
by  Lake  Bonneville,  a  Quaternary  lake 
which  covered  an  extensive  area  in  the 
Great  Basin  region.  During  the  time  of 
Lake  Bonneville  water  covered  the  valley 
to  a  depth  of  about  800  feet  and  hundreds 
of  feet  of  sediment  were  deposited  over  its 
bottom.  The  disappearance  of  the  lake 
exposed  a  nearly  level  surface  now  known 
as  the  valley  floor. 

On  all  sides  the  valley  is  surrounded  by 
high,  deeply  furrowed  mountains  which  are  spurs  of  the  "Wasatch 
Range.  The  mountains  on  the  east  side  are  higher  and  cover  a 
greater  area  than  those  on  the  west.  The  former  comprise  a  large 
catchment  basin  for  an  excellent  supply  of  pure  Avater,  Avhich  enters 
the  valley  from  that  side. 

The  smaller  range  of  mountains  on  the  west  side  separates  Cache 
Valley  from  the  Salt  Lake  Valley. 

The  average  elevation  of  the  valley  is  about  4.400  feet  above  sea 
level  and  the  highest  or  Bonneville  terrace  is  about  800  feet  higher. 

The  foothills  and  lower  mountain  slopes  are  marked  by  numerous 
old  lake  terraces  and  deltas  varying  in  width  from  a  few  rods  to 
more  than  a  mile.     These  are  conspicuous  from  all  parts  of  the 


Fig.  1. — Sketch  map  showing 
location  of  the  Cache  Valley 
area,  Utah. 


6  FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU    OF    SOILS,  1913. 

valley  and  mark  the  different  levels  of  old  Lake  Bonneville.  The 
surve}'  was  extended  up  the  sides  of  the  mountains  only  as  far  as 
the  soils  can  be  used  for  farming. 

The  floor  of  the  valley  is  a  broad,  slightly  undulating  plain,  which 
merges  with  the  gentle  slopes  of  the  foothills  of  the  near-by  moun- 
tains. 

The  generally  uniform  topography  is  broken  by  Xewton  Butte, 
Smithfield  Butte,  Mount  Smart,  and  Battle  Creek  Butte,  the  latter 
two  lying  outside  the  area  and  all  forming  conspicuous  features  of 
the  landscape.  In  the  southern  end  and  near  the  middle  of  the  east 
side  the  gentle  mountain  slopes  are  marked  by  large,  irregular,  fan- 
shaped  terraces  which  extend  from  the  mouths  of  the  large  canyons 
for  some  distance  into  the  valley. 

Those  portions  of  the  mountains  immediately  bordering  the  val- 
ley are  treeless,  except  for  small  groves  of  pine,  maple,  and  quaking 
aspen  in  the  deep  recesses  and  on  the  well-protected  northern  slopes. 
Facing  the  valley  the  mountain  slopes  are  more  rugged.  They  are 
covered  with  a  thin  mantle  of  soil  and  support  a  moderate  growth 
of  cedar,  a  scant  growth  of  brush,  and  a  heavy  carpet  of  grass. 
Cedar  seldom  grows  below  an  elevation  of  5,500  feet  on  the  mountain 
slopes  adjacent  to  the  valley.  Oak  and  maple  are  stunted  and  bush- 
like. Along  the  streams,  before  they  emerge  from  the  mountains, 
box  elder,  ash,  locust,  and  hackberry  occur.     (PL  I,  fig.  2.) 

In  the  valley  the  vegetation  along  the  streams  consists  of  cotton- 
wood,  birch,  willow,  wild  rose,  hawberry,  wild  hops,  and  other  vines ; 
otherwise  the  valley  in  its  natural  state  w^as  treeless.  Carolina 
poplar,  Lombardy  poplar,  box  elder,  locust,  balm-of-gilead,  ash, 
some  elm,  catalpa,  walnut,  and  butternut  now  flourish  around  the* 
towns  and  villages,  and  rows  of  Lombardy  poplar  in  many  places 
mark  farm  boundaries.  Low-lying  areas  on  the  valley  floor,  where 
moist  and  free  from  alakali,  are  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of 
grass;  those  that  are  not  so  well  drained  support  at  most  a  moderate 
to  scant  growth  of  greasewood  and  salt  grass  and  in  some  places  are 
barren.  The  mountain  foot  slopes  and  better  parts  of  the  valley  in 
their  native  state  support  a  moderate  to  heavy  growth  of  gray  sage. 

The  main  streams  enter  the  valley  from  the  east  and  south. 
Bear  River  and  its  tributaries  receive  the  entire  drainage  of  the 
valley.  The  valley  is  very  well  supplied  with  water  for  household 
and  irrigation  purposes.  That  portion  of  it  included  within  a 
line  drawn  from  Smithfield  west  to  Bear  River,  then  to  Mendon, 
Wellsville,  Hyrum,  Logan,  and  back  to  Smithfield,  lies  within  an 
artesian  belt  the  center  of  which  is  west  of  Logan.  Many  wells  of 
constant  flow  are  located  in  this  zone.  One  of  these  is  shown  in 
Plate  I,  figure  1. 


SOIL    SURVEY   OF    THE    CACHE    VALLEY   AEEA,   UTAH.  7 

The  valley  was  first  visited  by  white  settlers  in  1847,  but  it  was 
about  10  years  later  that  active  development  began.  The  first 
settlers  were  Mormon  pioneers  who  were  attracted  to  the  valley  by 
the  fertility  of  the  soil  and  the  abundant  supply  of  good  water. 
Development  was  slow,  however,  until  after  the  coming  of  the  rail- 
road in  1ST3.  Prior  to  this  it  was  necessary  to  haul  most  of  the 
farm  products  90  miles  or  more  to  market. 

Soon  after  1800  the  inception  of  mining  in  Montana  gave  a  great 
impetus  to  the  development  and  settlement  of  the  valley,  and  in  1870 
the  population  of  the  area  had  increased  to  8,229.  The  population 
has  grown  steadily  since  that  time  and  in  1910  was  23,062,  or  10.8  per 
square  mile.^  From  general  appearances,  the  valley  seems  to  be 
sparsely  settled,  owing  mainly  to  the  communal  custom  of  the  people. 
Ninety  to  95  per  cent  of  the  inhabitants  live  in  towns  or  villages,  and 
about  the  same  proportion  follow  agricultural  pursuits. 

The  population  is  mixed.  It  consists  principally  of  Scandinavians, 
Germans,  and  English.    Many  of  the  older  people  are  foreign  born. 

The  main  line  of  the  Oregon  Short  Line  Railroad  enters  the  valley 
through  Bear  River  narrows  and  passes  north  along  the  west  side  of 
the  valley.  A  branch  line  from  Cache  Junction  passes  around  the 
south  and  east  sides  of  the  valley  and  another  branch  line  of  the 
same  road  goes  directly  from  Cache  Junction  to  Logan.  These  lines 
afford  good  passenger  and  freight  facilities,  although  some  com- 
munities, including  Clarkston.  Lewiston,  and  Paradise,  are  several 
miles  distant  from  stations. 

Logan  is  the  county  seat  of  Cache  County  and  the  principal  city  of 
tlie  area.  An  interurban  car  line  connects  it  with  Smithfield  on  the 
north  and  Providence  on  the  south.  The  State  agricultural  college, 
Brigham  Young  College,  and  Xew  Jersey  Academy  are  located  at 
Logan.  Besides  these  the  area  is  well  supplied  with  good  schools. 
(PI.  II,  fig.  1.) 

The  towns  located  along  the  east  and  south  sides  of  the  valley  are 
mainly  dairy  and  sugar-beet  centers  and  considerable  fruit  is  grown 
locally.  The  west  side  is  noted  for  its  grain  and  alfalfa  production. 
Lewiston.  Trenton,  and  Benson  lie  in  excellent  sugar-beet  and  potato 
districts. 

There  are  two  beet-sugar  factories  located  within  the  area — one  at 
Logan  and  one  at  Lewiston.  The  area  also  supports  four  milk  con- 
denseries.  several  dairies,  nearly  a  dozen  flour  mills,  the  same  num- 
ber of  banks,  several  knitting  factories,  limekilns,  and  brick  fac- 
tories. 

1  These  flsures  are  taken  from  the  United  States  census  for  the  whole  of  Cache  County. 
They  are  believed  to  represent  approximately  the  population  of  the  Cache  Valley  area,  as 
practically  all  of  the  inhabited  region  of  the  county  is  included  within  this  area. 


8  FIELD  OPERATIONS   OF    THE   BUREAU   OF    SOILS,   1913. 

Several  power  plants  for  the  generation  of  electricit}^  are  located 
near  points  where  Logan  River  and  Blacksmith  P^ork  emerge  from 
the  mountains.  These  with  smaller  local  plants  supply  cheap  power 
and  lighting  for  the  valley  and  outside  points. 

The  area  has  more  than  TOO  miles  of  roads,  which,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  few  of  the  principal  highways,  are  only  in  fair  condition. 
They  are,  however,  receiving  considerable  attention  at  present. 

The  valley  is  generally  very  prosperous  and  its  greatest  need  is 
more  people  and  a  more  intensive  system  of  agriculture. 

CLIMATE. 

Cache  Valley  has  the  invigorating  climate  characteristic  of  the 
mountain  plateau  region  of  the  United  States.  The  spring  and  fall 
months,  with  mean  temperatures  of  45.7°  F.  and  49.9°  F.,  respec- 
tively, are  very  pleasant.  Comparatively  high  temperatures  prevail 
during  the  afternoons  of  the  summer  months,  but  the  difference  be- 
tween the  actual  and  sensible  temperatures  is  so  great  that  the  days 
are  not  oppressive  and  the  nights  are  always  cool.  The  winters  are 
generally  cold  and  dry,  the  mean  temperature  for  these  months 
being  25.3°  F.  The  annual  mean  temperature  for  the  valley  is  47.0° 
F. ;  the  highest  recorded  is  100°  F.  and  the  lowest  — 19°  F.,  giving  a 
range  of  119°  F. 

Cache  Vallej''  is  included  within  the  semiarid  belt,  the  average 
annual  precipitation  being  only  15.69  inches.  The  rainfall  is 
greatest  during  the  spring  months,  with  a  total  of  6.12  inches,  and 
least  in  the  summer,  Avhen  only  2.11  inches  falls,  and  this  is  practi- 
cally all  in  the  form  of  thunderstorms.  The  fall  and  winter  seasons 
have  about  the  same  amount,  3.62  and  3.84  inches,  respectively. 
The  rainfall  is  quite  uniform  over  the  valley,  but  is  somewhat 
greater  along  the  east  and  south  sides.  The  distribution  is  such 
that  it  is  never  necessary  to  irrigate  in  the  spring  to  cause  germi- 
nation of  seed  or  to  bring  seeded  crops  up.  Snowfall  varies  con- 
siderably, ranging  from  a  few  inches  to  2  feet  or  more.  On  the  sur- 
rounding mountams,  however,  snow  falls  every  month  with  the 
exception  of  July  and  August.  It  disappears  from  the  mountain 
peaks  usually  by  the  middle  of  July,  although  occasionally  remain- 
ing the  entire  year.  In  periods  widely  separated,  hailstorms  of 
varying  intensity  and  destructiveness  have  passed* over  parts  of  the 
valley,  but  they  are  of  infrequent  occurrence  and  of  local  extent. 
Very  little  fog  is  seen  at  any  time,  but  a  moderate  to  heavy  dew 
occurs  throughout  much  of  the  growing  season,  which  is  an  advan- 
tageous feature  in  a  region  of  such  .scant  rainfall. 


SOIL   SURVEY   OF   THE   CACHE  VALLEY  AREA,   UTAH.  9 

The  amount  of  rainfall  and  its  distribution  are  favorable  for  the 
production  of  dry-farm  crops,  such  as  grain,  alfalfa,  alfalfa  seed^ 
and  a  few  other  crops  of  less  importance.  To  extend  the  range  of 
crops  or  to  get  the  maximum  yields  of  most  of  the  crops  mentioned 
irrigation  must  be  resorted  to. 

The  great  number  of  warm,  uniform,  clear  summer  days  hastens 
the  growth  and  maturity  of  crops.  The  nights  are  too  cool  for  the 
profitable  production  of  corn  on  a  large  scale,  but  fair  yields  of  flint 
corn,  sweet  corn,  and  popcorn  are  frequently  obtained,  especially 
along  the  east  and  south  sides  of  the  valley.  The  average  date  of  the 
first  killing  frost  in  the  fall  is  October  8  and  the  last  in  spring  May 
10.  The  earliest  date  of  killing  frost  recorded  in  the  fall  is  Septem- 
ber 1-i  and  the  latest  in  spring  June  IT.  There  is  an  average  grow- 
ing season  of  150  da^s  which  is  too  short  over  the  greater  part  of  the 
valley  to  make  the  growing  of  tomatoes,  cantaloupes,  .watermelons, 
peaches,  and  grapes  on  a  commercial  scale  practicable,  although  fair 
quantities  of  all  these  products,  except  peaches,  are  produced  in 
favorable  places  along  the  east  and  south  sides  of  the  valley  and  in, 
sandy  areas  elsewhere. 

The  cold  Avinds  come  from  the  northwest  and  north.  The  prevail- 
ing winds  are  from  the  southwest  and  are  strongest  during  the  late 
spring  and  early  summer  months,  when  they  are  warm,  and  if  pro- 
longed for  several  days  usually  bring  rain.  Around  the  mouths  of 
large  can^'ons,  such  as  Logan  Canyon,  Blacksmith  Fork  Canyon, 
East  Fork  Canyon,  and  some  others,  over  an  area  of  approximately 
li  scpiare  miles,  frosts  are  less  likely  to  occur  than  farther  out  on  the 
valley  floor.  This  makes  such  places  especially'  favorable  for  the  cul- 
ture of  the  more  tender  fruits  and  truck  crops.  The  dry  summer 
winds  cause  a  high  rate  of  evaporation,  the  loss  from  a  free  water 
surface  being  reported  as  50  to  GO  inches  annually.  This  emphasizes 
the  necessity  of  thorough  cultivation  of  the  soil  to  conserve  moisture 
and  prevent  the  rise  and  accumulation  of  alkali. 

The  climate  of  the  valley  is  favorable  for  the  growing  of  the  more 
hardy  varieties  of  apples,  pears,  plums,  and  cherries.  Only  in  a  few 
small  areas,  already  mentioned  as  lying  within  the  range  of  the 
canyon  breezes,  can  peaches,  apricots,  and  Japanese  and  American 
plums  be  produced,  and  even  in  such  places  the  crops  are  uncertain 
and  the  trees  subject  to  more  or  less  damage  by  low  Avinter  tempera- 
tures. For  the  successful  growing  of  fruit  on  a  large  scale  over  most 
of  the  valley  smudging  may  be  found  necessary. 


10 


FIELD  OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU    OF    SOILS,  1913. 


The  followino:  table  gives  the  normal  monthly,  seasonal,  and  an- 
nual temperature  and  precipitation  at  Logan: 

l^^onnal  monthly,  seasonal,  and  annual  temperature  and  precipitation  at  Logan. 


Temperature. 

Precipitation. 

Month. 

Mean. 

Absolute 
maximum. 

Ab.solute 
minimum. 

Mean. 

Total 
amount  for 
the  driest 

year. 

Total 
amount  for 
the  wettest 

year. 

"F. 
25.3 
24.4 
26.3 

"F. 
57 
54 
58 

^F. 
-15 
-15 
-19 

Inches. 
0.96 
1.53 
1.35 

Inches. 
0.30 
0.40 
1.22 

Inches. 
1.99 

2.28 

2.02 

25.3 

3.84 

1.92 

6.29 

March ^ 

April 

35.3 
47.4 
54.3 

73 
90 
90 

-  3 
13 
24 

2.01 
1.67 
2.44 

2.22 
1.60 
2.13 

2.61 
2.47 

May 

5.05 

Spring 

45.7 

6.12 

6.95 

10  13 

June 

66.5 
71.5 
70.7 

95 
100 
99 

31 
37 
35 

0.83 
0.47 
0.81 

0.63 
0.20 
0.73 

1.43 

Jtily 

0.71 

August 

4.00 

Summer 

69.6 

2.11 

1.56 

6  C9 

September 

61.4 
50.1 

37.8 

93 
85 
73 

26 

19 

-11 

1.09 
1.28 
1.25 

2.07 
0.37 
0.64 

1  62 

October 

0.60 

November 

1  07 

Fall 

49.8 

3.62 

3.08 

3  29 

Year 

47.6 

100 

-19 

15.69 

12.51 

26  40 

AGRICULTURE. 


Both  dry  and  irrigation  farming  are  carried  on  extensively  in  the 
Cache  Valley  area.  The  lands  above  the  existing  canal  S3'stems, 
usually  too  uneven  for  irrigation,  and  much  of  the  heavy  valley 
soils,  mainly  of  the  Trenton  series,  which  puddle  badly  and  which 
are  in  places  affected  with  alkali,  are  used  for  dry  farming.  "Wlieat, 
rye,  barley,  some  oats,  and  alfalfa  are  the  main  crops  on  these  areas, 
though  in  favorable  years  on  soils  retentive  of  moisture  sugar  beets, 
potatoes,  corn  fodder,  sorghum,  and  a  few  other  minor  crops  can 
be  grown  successfully.  Under  irrigation  alfalfa,  small  grains, 
grasses,  sugar  beets,  potatoes,  sweet  corn,  and  popcorn,  and  in  fa- 
vorable localities  bush  and  vine  fruits,  truck  crops,  and  tree  fruits 
yield  excellent  returns. 

Dairying,  the  raising  of  hogs,  and  poultry  and  bee  keeping  are 
all  industries  adding  greatly  to  the  incomes  of  farmers.  Fish  cul- 
ture is  also  locally  of  some  importance. 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    CACHE   VALLEY   AREA,   UTAH.  H 

In  addition  to  these  more  or  less  intensive  industries  of  the  val- 
ley, thousands  of  sheep  and  cattle  are  pastured  in  the  near-by 
mountains.  This  stock  belongs  mainly  to  farmers  living  in  the  val- 
ley.    Large  shijiments  are  made  from  local  points. 

The  average  size  of  farms  in  Cache  Valley  has  increased  from 
85  acres  in  1880  to  154.3  acres  in  1910.  The  increase  in  size  is  prob- 
ably due  mainly  to  the  increase  in  dry  farming  or  the  need  of  larger 
acreages  under  dry-farming  conditions  to  enable  farmers  to  gain  a 
livelihood.  With  this  increase  in  farm  acreage  there  has  been  a 
slight  increase  in  the  number  of  farms  and  in  the  proportion  of  im- 
proved land  in  farms.  The  demand  for  farm  land  in  the  part  of 
Cache  County  surveyed  has  been  so  great  in  recent  years  that  almost 
every  available  acre  has  been  utilized  and  the  farms  have  "encroached 
upon  the  mountain  slopes  until  the  rough  stony  areas  have  been 
reached.  This  change  has  been  accompanied  by  a  marked  increase 
in  the  value  of  farm  lands. 

The  several  systems  of  farming  practiced  and  the  special  indus- 
tries of  sufficient  importance  will  be  considered  separately  in  the  fol- 
lowing pages. 

DRY  FARMING. 

Dry-farming  practices  are  systematic  and  up  to  date,  and  the  only 
unfavorable  feature  of  the  system  noted  is  the  failure  to  maintain 
the  humus  content  of  the  soil.  This  important  soil  constituent  is 
partially  restored,  however,  by  the  use  of  headers  and  combined 
harvesters  in  most  instances,  which  leave  a  very  high  stubble  to  plow 
under.  The  practice  in  dry-farm  grain  growing  is  to  allow  the  land 
to  lie  fallow  each  alternate  year.  The  most  successful  farmers  plow 
their  lands  as  soon  as  possible  after  the  grain  is  cut  and  let  the  land 
lie  imdisturbed  through  the  winter.  Then  the  soil  is  dragged,  disked, 
or  harrowed  the  following  spring  as  soon  as  dry  enough.  Fallow 
fields  are  harrowed  after  each  rainstorm  during  summer  to  keep  the 
surface  mulched,  thus  conserving  the  moisture.  Fall  wheat  is  sown, 
if  moisture  conditions  are  favorable,  late  in  August  or  in  September, 
in  order  that  the  plants  may  cover  the  ground  well  before  winter  sets 
in.  If  the  surface  moisture  is  deficient,  fall  seeding  is  deferred  until 
late  in  October  or  Xovember  to  avoid  the  germinating  of  the  seed 
and  its  subsequent  destruction  for  want  of  sufficient  moisture.  If 
moisture  conditions  are  at  all  favorable  in  the  fall  and  the  above 
practice  is  followed  carefully,  the  best  farmers  say  that  they  are  able 
to  maintain  an  average  yield  of  30  bushels  of  wheat  per  acre  every 
other  year,  or  an  average  of  15  bushels  per  acre  per  year. 


12  FIELD  OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU   OF   SOILS,  1913. 

P'or  dry- farmed  wheat,  oats,  barle}',  or  rye  the  cost  of  production 
per  acre  shoukl  not  exceed  $2.50  where  the  work  is  done  b}'  the  farmer 
and  $4.50  if  done  by  contract.^ 

On  a  basis  of  $4.35  for  the  production  of  wheat  on  1  acre  every 
other  5'ear,  with  wheat  selling  for  70  cents  a  bushel  and  a  yield  of  ?>0 
bushels  per  acre,  a  net  income  of  $16.65  every  two  years,  or  $8.33  an 
acre  per  year  is  obtained.  Considering  the  usual  rate  of  8  per  cent 
interest  on  the  investment,  this  makes  dry-farm  land  unprofitable  for 
wheat  production  in  the  Cache  Valley  area  when  its  market  price  is 
about  $104  an  acre.  These  yields  can  not  be  obtained  on  all  dry-farm 
lands  in  the  area,  for  they  are  not  all  equally  adapted  to  grain  cul- 
ture. For  the  poorer  lands  the  net  returns  are  one-third  or  one-half 
less  than  the  above  figures. 

Most  of  the  dr3^-farmed  grain  is  cut  and  thrashed  in  one  operation. 
and  the  sacked  grain  is  either  hauled  to  market  immediately  or  piled 
in  the  field  and  covered  with  straw  until  sold. 

Very  little  spring  wheat  is  grown,  because  of  greater  difficulty  in 
maturing  it  without  irrigation.  Oats  are  generally  grown  as  a 
spring  crop,  but  require  one  irrigation  for  the  best  returns.  Rye  is 
alwaj's  planted  in  the  fall  and  produces  heav}^  yields.  Barley  is 
generally  sown  in  spring,  and  in  favorable  years  very  satisfactory 
yields  are  obtained.  It  is  undoubtedly  the  best  grain  for  spring 
sowing. 

Among  the  leading  varieties  of  winter  wheat  for  dry  farming  in 
Cache  Valley  are  Gold  Coin,  Turkey  Red,  Martins  Amber,  Odessa, 
New  Zealand,  Silver  Chaff,  Fife,  and  Kharkof.  For  spring  planting 
the  New  Zealand,  Club,  and  Sonora  are  favorite  varieties.  Among 
the  oats  Sixty-day,  Kherson,  Burt,  and  Swedish  Select  are  leading 
varieties.  Both  the  two-rowed  and  six-rowed  varieties  of  barley  are 
grown. 

Land  for  grain  is  usually  plowed  from  8  to  12  inches  deep.  ^Vhere 
the  soil  is  heavy  deep  plowing  gives  the  best  returns. 

ALFALFA   AND   GRASSES. 

Although  a  considerable  area  of  the  low  moist  lands  of  the  valley 
is  devoted  to  the  production  of  the  cultivated  grasses,  alfalfa  is  by 
far  the  most  important  hay  crop.  It  was  introduced  into  the  valley 
by  the  early  settlers  and  has  steadily  increased  in  importance  to  the 
present  time. 

A  number  of  soil  types  occurring  in  the  valley  are.  well  suited 
for  alfalfa  production.  The  types  of  lighter  texture,  however,  where 
moisture  conditions  can  be  controlled,  give  the  best  results  when  seed 

'  See  report  of  tests  made  at  the  substation  of  the  Utah  State  Agricultural  Experiment 
Station  at  Nephi,  Utah. 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    CACHE    VALLEY   AREA,   UTAH.  13 

piodiiction  is  the  aim.  Seed  is  produced  almost  entirely  on  dry- 
farmed  land.  If  the  season  is  wet,  the  second  crop  may  become  too 
rank  even  on  dry-farmed  land  for  good  seed  f)roduction,  and  it  is 
cut  for  hay;  but  if  the  weather  remains  dry,  the  second  crop  will 
leach  a  height  of  only  8  to  15  inches,  and  it  is  this  condition  which 
produces  the  best  quality  and  heaviest  yield  of  seed.  Generally  where 
fruit  production  is  unprofitable  the  gravelly  soils  can  be  made  to 
produce  the  largest  profits  when  utilized  for  alfalfa  seed  production. 
From  1  to  2  tons  of  good  hay  from  the  first  cutting  and  from  5  to  8 
l)ushels  of  seed  per  acre  are  not  uncommon  yields  on  such  lands. 
Alfalfa  seed  sells  for  10  to  15  cents  a  pound  when  well  cleaned  and  in 
good  condition. 

The  average  yield  per  acre  of  alfalfa  hay  in  the  vallej'  is  about  3 
tons,  but  where  proper  irrigation  is  practiced  and  each  crop  cut 
as  soon  as  ready,  yields  of  5  and  6  tons  per  acre  in  three  cuttings 
are  easily  obtained  on  the  best  soils.  The  average  price  per  ton  is 
$7  to  $8,  and  in  some  years  it  reaches  $15  or  more  per  ton.  It  costs 
from  $G  to  $8  an  acre  to  plant  alfalfa  and  from  $2  to  $2.50  a  ton 
thereafter  to  grow  and  place  the  hay  in  the  stack. 

With  alfalfa  spring  sow^ing  is  practiced,  and  no  catch  crop  is 
used  in  dry-land  seeding.  Where  water  is  available  for  irrigation 
a  catch  crop  of  wheat  or  oats  is  frequently  used  with  excellent  re- 
sults. This  enables  the  farmer  to  get  some  returns  from  the  land 
the  first  year.  Generally  there  is  no  return  from  the  alfalfa  field 
the  first  year,  but  where  water  is  available  and  soil  conditions  are 
favorable  yields  of  2  tons  of  hay  per  acre  have  been  obtained.  In 
some  cases  a  small  yield  of  seed  is  obtained  the  first  year  on  dry- 
farmed  land. 

The  third  cutting  of  alfalfa  is  generalh"  reduced  considerably  by 
frost.  The  second  and  third  crops  may  be  advanced  nearly  a  week 
each  by  irrigating  the  preceding  crop  a  few  days  before  cutting. 
This  stimulates  a  new  growth  at  the  crowns  of  the  plants  and  as  soon 
as  the  standing  crop  is  removed  active  growth  begins.  This  practice 
has  proved  desirable  in  the  valley,  w^here  the  irrigation  waters  are 
nearly*  clear.  If  the  water  is  mudd}^,  however,  dirt  accumulates  on 
the  stems  of  the  plants  and  dusty  hay  results.  One  good  irrigation — 
about  4  to  G  inches  of  water — is  sufficient  for  each  crop  of  hay. 

Besides  alfalfa  certain  grasses  are  found  valuable.  For  dry 
farming,  brome  grass,  tall  oat  grass,  orchard  grass,  giant  rye  grass, 
and  bunch  grass  do  Avell  on  nearly  all  the  soils  not  too  vret  or  too 
strongly  impregnated  with  alkali.  The  giant  rye  grass  and  bunch 
grass  seem  to  thrive  better  than  the  other  species  at  elevations  above 
G,000  feet.  Timothy  and  redtop  are  grown  on  the  low  wet  soils  free 
from  alkali  and  give  heavy  yields  of  hay. 


14  FIELD  OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU   OF    SOILS,   1913. 


SUGAB    BEETS. 


The  growing  of  sugar  beets  is  one  of  the  most  profitable  industries 
in  the  valley.  A  Avide  range  of  soil  types,  varying  in  texture  from 
fine  sandy  loams  to  silty  clays,  are  utilized.  Beets  thrive  even  on 
the  very  heavy  soils  of  the  area,  because  of  their  silty  nature,  the 
high  lime  and  humus  content,  and  the  existence  of  the  granular 
structure  favorable  to  development  of  root  crops.  Soils  for  this  crop 
should  be  well  drained  and  free,  or  nearly  free,  from  alkali  for 
best  results.  Sugar  beets  are,  however,  quite  resistant  to  white 
alkali  where  the  soil  is  kept  in  good  tilth. 

Although  most  of  the  soils  of  the  valley  are  high  in  humus,  appli- 
cations of  manure  are  beneficial  in  beet  growing.  Excellent  yields 
are  obtained  on  alfalfa  stubble.  Yields  on  the  light-textured  soils 
decline  sooner  than  on  the  heavy  types. 

For  the  best  results  the  land  is  plowed  in  the  fall  to  a  depth  of  10 
to  12  inches,  and  on  the  heavy  types  again  in  spring  to  a  depth  of 
6  to  8  inches.  For  the  lighter  types,  fall  plowing,  followed  by  a 
heavy  spring  disking,  may  suffice.  This  is  followed  by  harrowing 
until  the  seed  bed  is  in.  a  loose,  friable  condition  and  free  from  clods. 
The  seed  is  planted  by  drills  in  rows  from  15  to  18  inches  apart  and 
from  one-half  to  IJ  inches  deep.  Fifteen  to  twenty  pounds  of  seed 
are  sown  per  acre.  Thinning  is  done  when  the  plants  have  four 
leaves,  the  beets  being  left  from  6  to  8  inches  apart  in  the  row.  The 
closeness  of  beets  in  the  row^  and  of  the  rows  themselves  depends 
upon  the  fertility  and  texture  of  the  soil.  Shallow  cultivation  fol- 
lows thinning,  and  care  is  exercised  not  to  throw  dirt  against  the 
plants,  for  they  need  all  the  air  and  sunshine  possible.  Hoeing  is 
frequent  enough  to  keep  the  weeds  down.  Shallow  furrows  are  used 
for  irrigation,  and  the  best  results  are  obtained  where  the  furrows 
run  between  different  rows  at  successive  irrigations. 

The  Trenton  fine  sandy  loam  subirrigates  quite  freely,  and  on  this 
type  furrows  1  foot  to  1|  feet  deep  are  plowed  through  the  field  at  in- 
ter\-als  of  50  to  100  feet  and  water  is  run  along  them.  The  distance 
between  the  furrows  depends  upon  the  texture  of  the  soil  ^nd  the 
nature  of  the  subsoil.  Irrigation  should  not  be  given  until  the  crop 
shows  need  of  moisture,  and  even  then  the  soil  should  be  examined 
1  foot  to  2  feet  deep  to  note  the  moisture  content.  This  encourages 
the  development  of  a  long  tap  root.  Too  early  irrigation,  alkali  land, 
and  too  much  fresh  manure  produce  a  short,  stubby,  branched,  and 
undesirable  beet. 

The  usual  tendency  is  toward  the  overirrigation  of  this  crop,  and 
considerable  injury  to  the  soil  results.  Cross  ditches  every  20  or  30 
rods  apart,  the  distance  depending  upon  the  nature  of  the  soil,  are 
desirable.     Otherwise  the  upper  part  of  the  field  is  overirrigated 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    CACHE    VALLEY    AREA,   UTAH.  15 

before  the  lower  part  receives  enough  water.  Flooding  and  overflow- 
ing should  be  avoided,  as  it  puddles  and  packs  the  soil  around  the 
beets  and  greatly  interferes  with  their  development. 

From  two  to  four  irrigations  are  ample,  the  last  being  given  about 
20  to  30  days  before  digging.  Cultivation  follows  irrigation  as  soon 
as  possible,  and  at  best  is  from  4  to  6  inches  deep.  This  forms  an 
effective  mulch  and  prevents  evaporation.  Hilling  the  beets  and 
breaking  off  the  leaves  is  avoided  at  all  times. 

Factories  at  Logan  and  Lewiston  take  the  beets  grown  in  the  val- 
ley.^ The  acreage  supplying  the  Logan  factory  has  averaged  4,000 
acres  for  the  last  5  years  and  that  supplying  the  Lewiston  factory 
5,375  acres.  The  average  yield  per  acre  in  tons  covering  the  same 
period  has  been  11.95  tons  for  the  lands  supplying  the  Logan  factory 
and  11.99  tons  on  the  area  tributary  to  the  Lewiston  factor3^  The 
average  sugar  Afield  per  ton  of  beets  for  the  last  5  years  has  been  225 
pounds  at  Logan  and  218  pounds  at  Lewiston.  Four  dollars  and  fifty 
cents  a  ton  is  paid  to  the  farmer  for  beets  delivered  at  the  factories 
or  on  the  cars. 

A  considerable  part  of  the  labor  in  beet  culture  is  performed  by 
Japanese  and  boys.  Five  dollars  an  acre  is  the  price  paid  for  thin- 
ning. Japanese  also  rent  land  for  beet  growing  at  a  rental  of  $12  to 
$15  an  acre  per  j^ear. 

The  total  cost  per  acre  of  the  production  of  beets,  including  the  cost- 
of  seed  and  all  operations  from  plowing  the  land  to  deliver}^  on  the 
cars  or  at  the  factory,  is  reported  to  be  about  $35.  The  cost  varies 
greatly  with  the  character  of  the  soil  and  the  efficiency  of  the  labor. 

With  present  practices  and  allowing  8  per  cent  on  the  investment, 
the  maximum  price  of  land  for  commercial  sugar-beet  growing  is 
about  $250  an  acre.  AMien  land  commands  a  higher  price  in  the 
market  than  this,  either  greater  yields  of  beets  must  be  obtained,  ex- 
penses reduced,  or  the  land  used  for  the  production  of  more  profitable 
crops. 

A  number  of  attempts  have  been  made  in  the  valley  to  produce 
sugar-beet  seed,  and  the  results  have  shown  that  it  can  be  done  suc- 
cessfully. As  yet  little  attention  has  been  given  to  seed  production, 
and  the  crop  has  offered  no  special  inducement  over  other  crops  as 
profitable  and  requiring  less  labor.  Nevertheless  with  proper  system 
there  seems  to  be  no  reason  why  the  groAving  of  sugar-beet  seed  in 
the  area  should  not  be  among  the  leading  agricultural  pursuits.  In 
experiments  conducted  by  the  State  experiment  station  a  yield  of 
4,196  pounds  of  seed  per  acre  was  obtained.  The  price  usually  paid 
for  seed  in  the  valley  Avould  insure  a  satisfactory  profit. 

^  statistics  given  in  this  and  succeeding  paragraphs  were  supplied  by  the  Amalgamate^ 
Sugar  Co. 


16  FIELD  OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU   OF    SOILS,  1913. 


FRUIT  CULTURE. 


Onh'  slight  attention  has  been  given  to  fruit  culture  in  Cache 
Valley  heretofore  and  only  in  very  recent  years  has  it  been  demon- 
strated that  this  business  is  one  of  the  most  profitable  which  yet 
awaits  development. 

Apples. — Among  the  fruits  which  can  be  successfull}-  grown  in  the 
area  the  apple  is  probably  the  most  important.  Small  quantities  of 
api)les  have  been  grown  in  the  valley  for  many  years.  That  the  in- 
dustry has  been  unprofitable  is  believed  to  be  due  to  lack  of  knowl- 
edge as  regards  varieties  suited  to  the  region,  failure  to  recognize  the 
important  factor  of  soil  adaptation,  lack  of  care  in  selecting  orchard 
sites,  and  failure  to  combat  insect  and  other  pests. 

Much  of  the  valley  soil  is  too  heavy  for  the  best  results  with  apples. 
The  mountain  foot  slopes  and  old  lake  terraces  along  the  east  and 
south  sides  of  the  valley  best  meet  the  requirements  for  the  develop- 
ment of  apple  orcharding.  There  is  here  in  nearly  all  places  along 
the  slopes  at  the  foot  of  the  massive-limestone  mountains  a  belt  of 
country  1  mile  or  2  miles  wide  where  the  soil-forming  j)rocesses  and 
materials  have  been  such  as  to  give  rise  to  soils  especially  adapted  to 
orcharding.  In  places,  however,  the  subsoil  is  a  compact,  heavy  clay 
extremely  high  in  lime,  and  such  areas  should  be  avoided. 

Some  good  results  have  been  obtained  in  growing  apples  on  the 
Trenton  fine  sandy  loam  and  on  the  heavy  phase  of  this  type  in  the 
valley  floor,  but  the  element  of  risk  is  much  greater  in  such  places 
on  account  of  the  possibility  of  injury  from  winter  and  spring 
freezes,  alkali,  and  overirrigation. 

The  soils  and  subsoils  on  the  foot  slopes  of  the  low  mountain  range 
from  Mendon  to  Clarkston  are  generally  heavier  than  the  soils  lying 
along  the  higher  mountains  formed  of  massive  limestone.  The  for- 
mer soils  have  been  derived  from  softer  marly  limestones,  which 
break  down  readily  and  weather  into  finely  divided  material  in  a 
relatively  short  time.  Apple  trees  grown  on  such  soils  with  very 
heavy,  compact  subsoils  high  in  lime  thrive  until  their  roots  reach 
the  dense  underlying  material,  and  then  the  leaves  frequently  turn 
yellow  and  in  most  instances  the  trees  become  scrubby,  lack  vigor,  and 
fail  to  bear  well.  There  are  some  local  areas,  however,  along  the 
western  mountain  foot  slopes  where  the  subsoils  are  lighter,  more 
silty,  and  easily  penetrated  by  roots. 

In  growing  apples  where  the  subsoils  are  dense  and  heavy  it  has 
been  the  custom  to  irrigate  the  trees  frequently  and  heavily.  Irri- 
gation is  given  the  small  orchards  in  such  places  every  10  days  to 
2  weeks.  This  keeps  the  roots  of  the  trees  in  a  water-logged  soil 
much  of  the  time  and  does  more  or  less  damage  to  the  trees.  It  is 
very  essential  in  choosing  soil  suitable  for  an  orchard  to  select  areas 


Report  of  Bureau  of  Soils,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.  1913. 


Plate 


Fig.  1,— Artesian  Well  on  Soils  of  the  Trenton  Series  West  of  Logan. 


Fig.  2.— View  in  Cache  Valley  from  Point  Southwest  of  Loqan. 

Wasatch  Mountaiii.s  in  di-stance,  showing  faintly  higher  lake  terraces  at  their  foot.    Alfalfa 
on  soils  of  the  lake  bottom  in  foreground. 


R.-port  of  Bureau  of  Soils.  U.  S^  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1913. 


Plate  II. 


FiQ.  1.— View  in  Vicinity  of  Logan. 

Soils  of  Logan  scries  in  foreground.    Terrace  on  right  in  distance  occupied  by  soils  of  the 
Hyrum  series,  and  constituting  portion  of  the  old  delta  of  Logan  River. 


FiQ.  2.— FiMtH  oTHATiMtD  Bonneville  Lake  Sediments  near  Hyrum. 


Report  of  Bureau  of  Soils,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1913. 


Plate  III. 


Fig.  i.— Sugar  Beets  on  Soils  of  the  Trenton  Series. 
Sugar  factory  in  distance,  Lewiston,  Utah. 


^      ^ 


:-\^-iy^ 


■^^ 


Fig.  2.— Porous  Substratum  Underlying  Soils  of  the  Hyrum  Series. 
Gravels  with  interstratilied  sands,  showing  cross  bedding  and  lens  .-structure. 


Report  of  Bureau  of  Soils,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1913. 


Plate  IV. 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    CACHE   VALLEY   AREA,   UTAH.  17 

where  the  subsoil  structure  is  open  enough  to  give  good  drainage.  It 
is  this  condition  found  in  the  belt  of  the  eastern  mountain  foot 
slopes  that  helps  to  make  it  the  most  desirable  section  for  apple 
growing.  The  high  terrace  soils  with  gravelly  subsoils  and  a  gravel 
substratum  are  also  among  the  choicest  apple  soils  of  the  area  and 
excellent  results  are  obtained  wherever  orchards  have  been  set  in 
such  places.  The  types  of  the  Millville,  Sterling,  Hyrum,  and  Men- 
don  series  where  well  drained  and  located  above  the  valley  floor  are 
the  best  soils  for  apple  culture  in  the  area. 

Of  the  valley  floor  soils  the  fine  sandy  loams,  loams,  and  silt  loams 
of  the  Trenton  and  Salt  Lake  series  are  to  be  preferred  for  apple 
culture. 

Of  the  apples  tried,  the  Jonathan,  Gano,  Missouri  Pippin,  Mam- 
moth Black  Twig,  Rome  Beauty,  and  Ben  Davis,  in  the  order  named, 
seem  to  be  best  suited  to  conditions  in  the  area. 

Apple  trees  are  ordinarily  long  lived  in  this  section,  and  the  fruit 
is  of  good  color,  flavor,  and  keeping  quality.  The  trees  usually  come 
into  bearing  the  fourth  or  fifth  year. 

The  entire  cost,  above  that  of  the  land  and  water,  of  bringing  an 
orchard  into  bearing  in  Cache  Valley  can  be  more  than  met  by  returns 
from  intertilled  crops.  In  many  places  in  the  valley  nearly  $100  an 
acre  net  has  been  realized  from  hoed  crops  planted  between  the  young 
trees. 

Some  of  the  fruit  now  produced  is  sold  by  growers  individually 
and  pavt  through  the  local  fruit  growers'  association.  The  disposal 
and  proper  marketing  of  the  fruit  at  the  best  possible  price  has  not 
received  the  consideration  due  it,  but  growers  are  now  beginning 
to  realize  that  this  question  is  as  important  as  growing  the  fruit. 

Peaches. — The  climate  of  the  area  as  a  whole  is  too  cold  for  com- 
mercial peach  culture;  but  there  are  a  few  favorably  located  places 
along  the  east  side  of  the  valley,  on  the  high  gravelly  terraces  and 
foot  slopes,  where  good  yields  of  fruit  of  fine  quality  have  been 
obtained.  Localities  near  the  mouths  of  large  canyons  are  especially 
favorable  for  the  growing  of  this  fruit  because  of  the  strong  canyon 
breezes  which  blow  nearly  every  night,  thus  protecting  such  places 
from  the  danger  of  severe  unseasonable  frosts.  Peach  growing  can 
only  be  developed  on  a  small  scale  to  supply  the  local  demand  and 
as  an  incidental.  Early  and  late  Crawfords  and  Elbertas  are  the 
favorite  varieties.  The  Hyrum  gravelly  fine  sandy  loam  and  Sterling 
gravelly  sandy  loam  and  the  loams  of  these  and  the  Millville  series 
where  well  drained  and  favorably  located  are  the  types  upon  which 
peaches  do  best. 

Pears. — Pear  culture  in  Cache  Valley  has  been  practically  aban- 
doned on  account  of  blight,  and  the  existing  orchards  are  badly 
72139°— 15 2 


18  FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF    THE   BUREAU    OF    SOILS,  1913. 

neglected.    The  climate  and  soils  of  the  valley  are  favorable  for  the 
l)roduction  of  this  fruit. 

Pears  have  a  wide  range  of  adaptation  to  soil  conditions,  and 
naturally  thrive  in  the  absence  of  blight  on  the  various  well-drained 
types  of  the  Millville.  Sterling,  Hyrum,  Mendon,  and  Trenton  series. 
This  fruit  will  succeed  on  lighter  and  heavier  soils  than  will  the 
apple. 

Of  the  varieties  tested  in  the  valley  and  adapted  to  conditions  here 
the  most  promising  are  Bartlett.  Am'ou,  Comice,  Bosc,  Winter  Nelis 
and  Kieffer. 

Cherries. — The  fine  sandy  loams,  silt  loam,  loams,  and  gravelly 
loams  of  the  Trenton,  Millville,  Sterling,  Hyrum,  Salt  Lake,  and 
Mendon  series  give  the  best  results  in  cherry  culture.  This  fruit  will 
grow  and  in  many  instances  produce  heavy  yields  on  the  well-drained 
soils.  The  trees  are  shorter  lived  and  more  irregular  in  growth  and 
bearing  on  the  heavier  types  of  soil. 

Conditions  of  climate  are  generally  unfavorable  for  the  sweet  va- 
rieties. Of  the  23  varieties  tested  at  Logan  by  the  State  experiment 
station.  Early  Eichmond  and  Montmorency  for  early  and  Double 
Natte  and  Ostheim  for  late  are  the  most  desirable  for  the  soils  and 
climate  of  the  valley. 

Cherries  command  a  ready  market  at  5  cents  a  pound.  Trees 
yield  from  50  to  250  pounds  each,  depending  upon  the  variety,  age 
of  tree,  size,  and  vigor.  The  trees  bear  regularly,  producing  crops 
each  year  Mhen  given  moderate  attention.  Sour  cherries  begin  to 
hear  two  or  three  years  after  planting. 

Plums. — Plums  thrive  and  yield  regularly,  and  bear  well-colored 
and  good-flavored  fruit.  Of  the  desirable  varieties  tested  at  the 
experiment  station  the  Lombard,  Free  Damson,  Pond  Seedling,  and 
Green  Gage  are  among  the  best  varieties.  Plums  may  be  grown  on 
about  the  same  range  of  soils  as  pears. 

Berries. — Currants,  gooseberries,  and  raspberries  thrive  in  all  parts 
of  the  valley  and  on  nearly  all  soils  where  well  drained  and  free 
from  alkali.  Dewberries  have  proved  successful  along  the  eastern 
mountain  foot  slopes.  Heavy  yields  are  obtained  each  j^ear  with 
moderate  care  and  a  ready  market  for  the  fruit  prevails  at  all  times. 

Strawberry  growing  is  developing  rapidly  along  the  east  side  of 
the  valley  on  the  mountain  foot  slopes  and  high  terraces.  The  in- 
dustry is  proving  to  be  one  of  the  most  profitable  yet  undertaken  by 
the  farmers.  The  valley  floor  and  west  side  are  not  well  suited  to 
this  fruit  on  account  of  the  generally  heavier  soils  and  greater  danger 
from  frosts.  Senator  Dunlap,  Marshall,  Glen  Mary,  and  Sample 
are  favorite  varieties  in  the  valley.  The  plants  are  set  out  in  early 
spring  and  no  crop  is  obtained  the  first  year.  Heavy  yields  are 
obtained  the  second  and  third  years  and  net  returns  of  $100  to  $250 


SOIL   SURVEY   OF    THE   CACHE   VALLEY  AEEA,   UTAH.  19 

an  acre  per  year  for  the  three  years'  life  of  the  patch  are  not  uncom- 
mon. Well-drained  fine  sands,  fine  sandy  loams,  loams,  silt  loams, 
and  gravelly  loams  of  the  Millville,  Sterling,  Hyriim,  Logan,  Mendon, 
and  Salt  Lake  series  have  proved  the  most  desirable  types  for  this 
crop. 

MELONS    AND    VEGETABLES. 

Watermelons  and  cantaloupes  are  produced  on  the  Trenton  fine 
sandy  loam  and  also  on  the  lighter  members  of  the  Millville,  Sterling, 
and  Plyrum  series.  The  heavy  types  are  too  cold  and  hold  the  matu- 
rity of  the  fruit  back  until  destroyed  by  fall  frosts.  Profitable  yields 
are  obtained  Avhere  good  care  is  given  these  crops  and  a  home  demand 
much  greater  than  the  supply  always  exists. 

The  growing  of  tomatoes  is  limited  by  the  climate,  and  only  on  the 
fine  sands,  fine  sandy  loams,  silt  loams,  and  gravelly  loams,  and  in 
well-protected  coves  and  slopes  are  they  able  to  mature  before  being 
killed  by  autumn  freezes. 

The  demand  for  navy  beans  far  exceeds  the  supply  and  those 
grown  find  a  ready  market  at  good  prices.  Good  yields  are  obtained. 
This  is  one  of  the  crops  planted  in  young  orchards. 

Potatoes  are  a  much  neglected  crop  in  Cache  Valley.  This  is 
mainly  due  to  the  irregularity  of  the  markets,  as  there  are  very  few, 
if  any,  pests  or  diseases,  and  all  that  is  necessary  is  to  have  the  soil 
in  good  condition  and  to  cultivate  and  irrigate  the  crop  properly. 

Cache  Valley  took  first  prize  in  the  State  fair  in  1912  for  the 
largest  yield  of  potatoes,  which  was  nearly  700  bushels  per  acre. 
Potatoes  find  an  almost  ideal  soil  in  the  Trenton  fine  sandy  loam  and 
the  loam  and  silt  loam  of  the  Salt  Lake,  Millville,  Mendon,  Hyrum, 
Sterling,  and  Logan  series.  When  grown  on  the  clay  loams  and 
clays  the  tubers  became  knotty  and  misshapen.  With  moderate  care 
jnelds  of  250  to  350  bushels  per  acre  are  not  uncommon  on  the  best 
potato  soils.  Ohio,  Mammoth,  Pearl,  Rural  New  Yorker,  and  Bur- 
bank  are  desirable  varieties  for  production  on  the  soils  and  under  the 
climatic  conditions  of  the  area. 

Potatoes  placed  in  pits  or  in  well-ventilated  cellars  keep  well  until 
late  the  following  spring,  and  the  only  difficulty  now  existing  in  the 
commeix-ial  production  of  this  crop  is  the  finding  of  suitable  markets. 

Cabbage  and  cauliflower  thrive  on  the  silty  clay  loams,  clay  loams, 
silt  loams,  and  loams  of  the  Millville,  Salt  Lake,  Trenton,  Logan, 
and  Mendon  series  of  soils.  Large  quantities  of  these  products  could 
easily  be  grown,  but  the  home  demand  is  slight  and  no  outside  mar- 
ket now  exists. 

There  is  a  strong  demand  for  onions  in  L^tah  and  surrounding 
States,  and  the  crop  is  grown  to  some  extent  in  Cache  Valley.  The 
fine  sandy  loam,  silt  loam,  loam,  and  silty  clay  loam  tj'^pes  of  the  area 
give  good  yields  of  this  crop,  500  to  800  bushels  per  acre  being  fre- 


20  FIELD  OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU    OF    SOILS,  1913. 

qiiently  obtained.     The  average  price  received  by  the  growers  is 

nearly  1  cent  a  pound.      Besides  onions,    asparagiis,    celery,  peas, 

cucumbers,  and  certain  other  truck  crops  may  be  grown  successfully 

in  the  A'alley. 

iior.s. 

The  raising  and  fattening  of  hogs  has  been  receiving  much  atten- 
tion in  recent  years.  The  large  western  cities  and  the  mining  camps 
offer  excellent  markets.  By  pasturing  the  hogs  on  alfalfa  through 
summer  and  fattening  them  in  the  fall  on  concentrates,  pork  can  be 
produced  at  little  cost.  Tamworth,  Berkshire,  and  Duroc-Jerseys 
are  the  more  popular  breeds. 


The  production  of  poultry  products  is  becoming  an  important  in- 
dustry in  the  area.  Conditions  of  soil  and  climate  seem  favorable  to 
this  business,  and  those  engaged  in  it  are  apparently  successful. 

A^liite  Leghorn  is  probably  the  most  popular  breed  where  egg  pro- 
duction is  the  chief  aim  and  the  Buff  Cochin,  Plymouth  Rock,  and 
Rhode  Island  Red  the  favorite  breeds  for  meat  production.  The  de- 
mand for  all  poultry  products  is  good. 

BEEKEEPING. 

Beekeeping  has  been  an  important  industry  in  the  valley  for  many 
3"ears.  The  sources  of  honey  are  alfalfa,  sweet  clover,  mustard,  sun- 
flower, and  numerous  other  plants.  That  the  pasturage  and  other 
conditions  are  favorable  is  shown  by  the  high  honej^  yields,  Avhich 
according  to  the  statements  of  some  of  the  leading  apiarists  average 
about  100  i^ounds  per  hive.  Honey  brings  6  cents  a  pound  extracted 
and  10  to  15  cents  a  pound  in  the  comb.  The  honey  is  of  excellent 
qualitv,  ranking  with  the  best  produced  in  the  West. 

The  largest  producer  in  the  valley  owns  about  4,500  stands.  There 
is  still  ample  room  for  the  expansion  of  beekeeping.  This  has  proved 
an  excellent  side  line  for  the  small  farmer. 

DAIRYING. 

Dairying  has  grown  very  rapidly  in  the  last  decade  and  has  de- 
veloped to  such  proportions  that  it  now  supports  four  large  milk 
condenseries  and  several  factories  making  butter.  Besides  this, 
much  milk  is  sold  for  local  consumption.  Much  butter  is  made  on 
the  farm. 

Most  of  the  dairy  herds  consist  of  grade  animals,  but  in  recent 
years  the  importation  of  pure-bred  Jersey  and  Holstein  cattle  has 
been  pronounced.  .  This  improvement  of  the  herds  has  done  much 
to  i)laco  the  dairy  industry  on  a  paying  basis. 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    CACHE    VALLEY   AREA,    UTAH.  21 

The  dairy  industry  is  most  highly  developed  along  the  east  side 
of  the  valley,  but  is  rapidh'^  spreading  to  other  sections.  At  present 
milk  produced  on  the  west  side  of  the  valley  is  handled  by  the  fac- 
tories at  Wellsville,  Logan,  Smithfield.  and  Eichmond.  There  is 
much  room  for  expansion  in  this  specialty  in  Cache  Valley. 

HORSE   RAISING. 

Cache  Valley  has  long  been  noted  for  its  excellent  horses.  Many 
carloads  are  shipped  to  California  and  surrounding  States  each 
year,  and  good  prices  are  obtained.  Draft  Ijreeds,  such  as  Per- 
cheron,  English  Shire,  Clydesdale,  and  Belgian,  predominate. 

SOILS. 

Cache  Valley  is  part  of  the  (ireat  Basin.  It  is  separated  from  the 
main  area  of  the  latter  by  a  low  range  of  mountains,  across  which 
Bear  River  has  cut  a  narrow  gorge  serving  as  a  drainage  outlet  from 
the  valle)'^  and  an  easy  entrance  to  it  from  the  main  body  of  the  basin. 
It  lies  on  the  extreme  eastern  border  of  the  basin,  its  eastern  boundary 
being  the  westward  slope  of  the  Wasatch  Mountains.  In  its  origin  it 
is  like  the  rest  of  the  basin,  being  due  in  the  beginning  to  earth 
movements,  the  most  important  of  which  consisted  of  faulting  and 
the  subsidence  of  the  area  of  the  basin  or  the  rise  of  the  country 
surrounding  it.  Since  its  original  formation,  however,  it  has  been 
greatly  modified,  through  the  accumulation  of  sediment  washed  into 
it  from  surrounding  mountains.  The  existing  topography  of  the 
valley  has  already  been  described. 

From  the  point  of  view  of  agriculture  and  of  soils  or  of  soil  mate- 
rial, the  original  shape  of  and  the  original  material  within  the  Cache 
Valley  is  of  little  importance.  The  whole  valley  floor  and  pra<"tically 
all  of  the  adjacent  slopes  as  far  up  the  bound;.ry  mouiitain  sides  as 
the  soil  survey  was  extended  or  as  far  as  agricultural  operations  now 
extend  are  shaped  by  a  coating  of  unconsolidated  mate  \"al  deposited 
since  the  original  formation  of  the  valley.  This  malf_;rial  consists  of 
unconsolidated  marl  or  limy  cla}',  clay,  sand,  gravel,  and  bowlders. 
The  thickness  of  the  layer  varies  greatly,  reaching  a  maximum  in  the 
central  part  of  the  valley  and  gradually  thinning  out  on  the  adjacent 
mountain  slopes. 

Owing  to  various  changes  in  conditions  which  have  obtained  since 
the  original  formation  of  Cache  Valley,  the  processes  by  which  the 
filling  and  reshaping  of  the  valley  have  been  effected  have  doubtless 
changed  many  times.  The  various  materials  deposited  in  the  valle}'' 
since  its  formation  may  be  conveniently  grouped  under  (1)  lake-laid 
deposits  and  (2)  alluvial  deposits. 


22  FIELD  OPERATIONS   OF    THE   BUREAU    OF    SOILS,   1913. 

Tliere  are  two  kinds  of  lake-laid  deposits,  laid  down  at  widely 
dift'erent  times  and  under  geographic  conditions  that  must  have 
differed  widely.  The  older  deposit  is  exposed  at  the  surface  only 
on  the  slopes  of  the  adjacent  mountains  and  in  the  higher  parts  of 
the  valley.  It  consists  of  soft  marly  clays  and  soft  limestones, 
nearly  white  in  color,  with  doubtless  more  or  less  associated  de- 
posits of  sand  and  gravel,  although  such  deposits  were  not  definitely 
identified  during  the  progress  of  the  work.  These  deposits  occur 
mainly  along  the  west  side  of  the  valley,  from  near  Mendon  north- 
ward to  the  vicinity  of  Clarkston.  They  are  found  also  along  the 
eastern  slope,  and  in  places  extend  up  to  the  top  of  the  low  range 
separating  Cache  Valley  from  the  Malade  Valley  west  of  it.  Sim- 
ilar deposits  occur  in  the  branch  of  the  Cache  Valley  lying  north  of 
Xewton.  as  well  as  on  the  low  ridge  separating  this  arm  from  the 
main  valley.  They  extend  above  the  level  of  the  younger  lake 
deposits  referred  to  and  in  such  cases  show  clearly  by  their  erosion 
and  weathered  character  that  the}^  are  older.  On  the  eastern  side 
of  the  valley  these  deposits  are  found  only  in  a  few  places,  mainly 
in  the  vicinity  of  Eichmond  and  in  the  southern  part  south  and 
southwest  of  ITvnim.  They  have  been  an  important  factor  in  the 
formation  of  the  Mendon  soils.     (PI.  II,  fig.  2 :  PI.  Ill,  fig.  2.) 

The  younger  lake  deposits  are  the  most  important  of  all  the 
deposits  in  the  valley.  They  occup}^  about  00  per  cent  of  the  area 
covered  by  the  soil  map  and  have  been  deposited  so  recently  that  they 
retain  essentially  the  topography  or  surface  shape  that  they  had  when 
deposited.  They  have  l)een  modified  in  the  surface  layer  by  the 
accumulation  of  organic  matter  and  by  weathering  processes  to  the 
extent  of  oxidation  and  the  disintegration  of  some  of  the  less  resistant 
material,  but  the  topography,  except  in  a  few  places  where  narrow 
valleys  have  been  cut  into  them  and  a  few  others  where  later  deposits 
have  been  laid  over  them,  is  that  of  the  original  deposits.  It  is 
constructional. 

The  central  or  axial  belt  of  the  valley  consists  of  a  smooth  plain 
floored  with  these  young  lake  deposits  and  with  more  or  less  material 
laid  on  top  of  them,  as  will  appear  later.  These  younger  lake  de- 
posits are  of  great  thickness,  at  least  800  feet  thick  in  places.  The 
lake  deposits  mantle  the  surrounding  mountain  slopes  up  to  a  level 
of  about  800  feet  al)ove  the  existing  valley  floor.  They  decrease  in 
thickness,  however,  and  finally  thin  out  entirely  at  the  level  just 
mentioned.  The  thickness  along  the  slopes  is  not  the  same  at  all 
points,  nor  does  it  decrease  at  a  uniform  rate  with  the  increase  in 
elevation.  In  general  the  deposits  are  thin  and  decrease  uniformly 
with  the  rise  in  elevation  along  the  w^st  side  of  the  valley  north  of 
Wellsville.  Along  the  east  side  and  the  south  and  north  ends  of  the 
valley   there   is  considerable   variation.     This   variation   is   due  to 


SOIL    SURVEY   OF    THE    CACHE   VALLEY   AREA,   UTAH.  23 

the  drainage  of  the  adjacent  mountains.  Wherever  streams  of  con- 
siderable size  entered  the  former  lake,  there  was  an  accumulation  of 
thick  deposits  in  the  lake  around  their  point  of  entrance.  These 
accumulations  took  the  form  of  deltas,  which  were  built  out  into  the 
lake,  the  top  being  built  up  to  the  level  of  the  lake  at  the  shore  line  or 
possibly  slightly  above  it  and  sloping  thence  gently  lakeward  to  the 
delta  front,  where  there  was  a  steep  drop  to  the  floor  of  the  lake. 
At  points  where  large  streams,  such  us  Logan  River,  entered  the  lake 
the  delta  deposits  are  several  hundred  feet  thick.  Between  the  deltas 
the  deposits  are  much  thinner  and  thin  gradually  toward  the  shore 
line.  AAlien  the  lake  was  drained  the  deltas  were  left  as  terraces. 
They  are  confined  to  the  eastern  side  of  the  valley.  Xo  stream  of  any 
size  entered  the  lake  from  the  Avestern  side,  so  no  opportunity  for 
the  building  of  deltas  existed  there.  The  important  deltas  on  the  east 
side  are  at  Logan  and  Hyrum,  while  smaller  ones  were  built  where 
Smithfield,  Millville,  and  Providence  now  stand.  The  Bear  River 
built  its  delta  north  of  the  northern  boundary  of  this  area,  and  the 
Little  Bear  River  built  no  well-defined  one. 

By  far  the  greater  number  of  the  soils  of  the  area  are  derived  from 
these  lake  deposits.  They  are  differentiated  into  series  on  the  basis 
of  the  color,  the  character  of  the  subsoil,  and  the  source  of  the  mate- 
rial. The  important  series  are  the  Millville,  Preston,  Hyrum,  Salt 
Lake,  and  Mendon. 

The  alluvial  deposits  consist  of  two  kinds:  (1)  Alluvial  fan,  and 
(2)  river  or  creek  alluvium.  The  alluvial-fan  deposits  belong  to  two 
series — an  old  series  and  a  recent  one.  Before  the  later  series  of  lake 
deposits  were  laid  down  there  was  a  period  when  at  least  the  upper 
part  of  the  valley  was  not  occupied  by  a  lake.  During  that  time 
alluvial-fan  deposits  were  spread  out  in  the  valley.  The  most  ex- 
tensive of  these  old  fans  lies  in  the  vicinity  of  AAon  and  thence  north- 
ward to  the  neighborhood  of  the  Hyrum  Delta.  The  relation  of  these 
old  fan  deposits  to  the  older  lake  deposits  is  not  known,  but  it  is 
thought  they  are  younger. 

In  recent  times  most  of  the  streams  have  deposited  fans  on  the 
floor  of  the  lake.  Small  intermittent  streams  entering  from  the 
mountains  have  built  steep  fans  on  the  mountain  slopes  and  on  top 
of  the  thinned  lake  deposits;  in  most  cases,  however,  streams  have 
cut  valleys  into  the  lake  deposits  and  far  below  the  level  of  the  former 
shore  line,  and  their  fans  have  been  built  below  the  eroded  gullies. 
The  larger  streams  have  built  larger  fans  out  on  the  flat  lake-bottom 
plain.  It  is  not  at  all  improbable  that  practically  the  whole  of  the 
low  lake  floor  has  been  covered  with  a  thin  fan  of  recent  river 
deposits  that  lie  on  the  boundary  between  true  lake  deposits,  true 
alluvial  deposits,  true  alluvial  fans,  and  true  delta  deposits.  Bear 
River  bluffs,  through  the  low  lake  plain,  are  higher  immediately 


24  FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF    THE   BUREAU    OF    SOILS,   1913. 

along  the  edge  of  its  more  recently  formed  narrow  valley.  This  is 
to  be  considered  merely  as  the  now  trenched  remnant  of  a  former 
progressively  advancing  delta  made  in  the  receding  lake  by  Bear 
River. 

The  modern  alluvial  deposits  are  found  along  the  stream  valleys. 
Logan  Kiver  has  cut  deep  into  the  Logan  Delta  and  formed  a  valley 
with  a  narrow  but  well-defined  flood  plain  across  it  some  300  feet  or 
more  beloAv  the  upper  surface  of  the  delta.  Other  streams  haxa 
cut  into  the  other  deltas.  All  the  larger  streams  have  eroded  shal- 
low valleys  into  the  lake  floor.  The  depth,  hoAvever,  is  rarely  more 
than  20  feet,  and  often  less.  Well-defined  alluvial  belts  have  been 
formed  in  these  valle3^s.  The  predominant  alluvial  soil  series  is  the 
Logan. 

The  rocks  in  the  mountains  surrounding  the  valley  are  mainly 
limestones  with  strong  quartzite  ledges.  Some  sandstones  occur,  but 
they  are  very  limited  in  extent.  Quartzites  and  limestones  have  not 
formed  distinct  bodies  of  soil  peculiar  to  each  and  capable  of  sepa- 
ration in  the  survey,  but  have  disintegrated  together  and  have  given 
rise  to  soils  with  preponderating  limestone  material. 

The  limestones  which  prominently  affect  the  soil  material  include 
the  massive  crj^stalline  limestones  of  the  higher  mountains,  fossilifer- 
ous  limestone,  soft  marly  limestones  of  Tertiary  age,  travertine  and 
oolitic  limestone.  The  only  notable  deposit  of  travertine  occurs 
slightly  southeast  of  Millville,  at  the  base  of  the  mountains.  Massive 
limestone,  mainly  calcium  carbonate  with  some  magnesian  limestone, 
occurs  all  along  the  east  and  south  sides  of  the  valley  and  on  the 
west  forms  a  mountain  just  west  of  Wellsville  and  iSIendon,  A  small 
outcrop  occurs  at  Blackrock.  south  of  Cache  Junction  and  another 
along  the  east  side  of  Newton  Butte,  while  a  high  mountain  composed 
of  the  material  occurs  just  Avest  of  Clarkston.  The  soft,  marly 
Tertiary  limestones  occupy  hills  and  footslopes  AA'hich  are  quite 
easily  eroded.  The  material  is  frequently  exposed  as  Avhite  or  light- 
gray  patches  along  slopes  and  ridges.  It  is  most  prominently  devel- 
oped along  the  Avestern  part  of  the  valley  in  the  vicinity  of  Mendon. 
Important  areas  of  oolitic  limestone  occur  Avest  of  Newton,  south  of 
Cache  Junction,  and  in  a  fcAV  other  places  in  the  valley. 

The  oolitic  limestone  is  the  purest  in  the  area,  analyzing  as  high 
as  98  per  cent  carbonate  of  lime.  The  massive  limestone  averages 
about  90  per  cent,  and  the  soft  fragmentary  Tertiary  impure  material 
forming  the  low  hills  and  mountains  Avest  of  NeAvtan  50  per  cent  or 
less.    The  travertine  contains  about  95  per  cent  of  lime. 

The  soils  derived  from  the  oolitic  and  fossil  if  erous  material  are 
unimportant  in  extent  and  were  included  Avith  the  other  residual 
soils,  whether  aboA^e  or  beloAv  the  lake  terraces.  These  limestone 
soils  haA^e  been  mapped  as  the  Eichmond  and  the  Blackrock  series, 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    CACHE    VALLEY   AREA,    UTAH. 


25 


in  addition  to  wliicli  an  extensive  nonagricultural  type  designated 
as  liougli  stony  land  is  recognized.  Tlie  soils  of  these  serieji  have 
been  influenced  somewhat  by  lake  sediments  on  the  lower  slopes  and 
by  some  alluvial  Avash  and  alluvial-fan  and  coUuvial  deposits  on  the 
Iiigher  md  steeper  slopes. 

The  Rough  stony  land  is  confined  to  that  part  of  the  area  lying 
above  the  agricultural  lands  along  the  outer  margins  of  the  area 
and  is  too  rough  and  broken  for  agricultural  use.  It  is  suited  only 
to  grazing  and  to  forestry. 

In  the  Cache  Valley  area  a  total  of  12  soil  series,  represented  by 
38  soil  types,  in  addition  to  one  nonagricultural  separation,  were 
mapped. 

The  following  table  gives  the  name  and  the  actual  and  relative 
extent  of  each  of  the  soil  types  mapped  in  the  area : 

Areas  of  different  soils. 


Soil. 


Trenton  flue  sandy  loam 

Heavy  phase 

Trenton  clay 

Avon  silty  clay  loam 

Mention  clay  loam 

Mention  loam 

Hough  stony  land 

Millvillc  loam 

Light  phase 

Millville  gravelly  loam 

Blaekrock  gravelly  loam 

Salt  Lake  silt  loam 

Sterlmg  gravelly  sandy  loam 

Salt  Lake  silty  clay  loam 

Trenton  loam 

Logan  clay 

Logan  loam 

Uynim  gravelly  loam 

Trenton  silty  clay  loam 

Richmond  silty  clay  loam 

Avon  silt  loam 

Mendon  silty  clay  loam 

Ilyrum  gravelly  fine  sandy 
loam 


Acres. 

Per  cent. 

20,992 
9,280 

1          10.5 

29, 120 

10.1 

26,688 

9.3 

26,368 

9.2 

23,872 

8.3 

18, 752 

0.5 

13,440 
768 

5.0 

11,584 

4.0 

8,448 

2.9 

8,320 

2.9 

8,064 

2.8 

7,808 

2.7 

7,104 

2.5 

6,528 

2.3 

6,464 

2.2 

6,208 

2.2 

5,824 

2.0 

4,544 

l.G 

4,288 

1.4 

4,096 

1.4 

3,328 

1.2 

Soil. 


Mendon  fme  sandy  loam 

Sterling  loam 

llyrum  loam 

Logan   gravelly    fine   sandy 

loam 

Richmond  gravelly  loam 

Avon  gravelly  silty  clay  loam 

Salt  Lake  loam 

Cache  clay 

Millville  silty  clay  loam 

Avon  gravelly  silt  loam 

Logan  silt  loam 

Trenton  clay  loam 

Sterling  gravelly  coarse  sandy 

loam 

Mendon  gra vellj'  loam 

Hyrum  silt  loam 

Sterling  fine  sandy  loam 

Logan  fine  sand 

Preston  fine  sand 

Total  


Acres. 


3,328 
3,204 

2,880 

2,496 

2, 432 

2,240 

2,112 

1,856 

1,728 

768 

512 

448 

384 
384 
32J 
320 
32U 
320 


288,000 


Per  cent. 


Avon  Skriks. 

The  Avon  series  is  derived  mainly  from  pre-Bonneville  sedimentary 
deposits  washed  into  the  valley  prior  to  its  occupancy  b}^  that  lake. 
The  soils  occupy  a  position  above  the  highest  lake  terraces  and 
are  badly  dissected  and  eroded  in  most  places.  For  convenience, 
and  because  of  limited  extent,  the  fcAv  scattering  alluvial  fans  of 
recent  formation  occurring  on  the  mountain  foot  slopes  have  been 


26 


FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU    OF    SOILS,  1913. 


included  within  this  series.  The  soils  are  characteristically  heavy 
and  are  a  medium  to  dark  brown  in  color,  often  with  a  distinct  red- 
dish tint.  The  subsoil  is  usually  reddish  brown  to  grayish  brown  or 
sometimes  light  gray  in  color,  and  is  calcareous. 

The  material  giving  rise  to  the  soils  of  this  series  seems  to  have 
come  mainly  from  limestone  and  quartzite  rocks.  A  greater  variety 
of  rocks  is.  however,  probably  represented  to  a  minor  extent.  Vary- 
ing quantities  of  rounded  quartzite  bowlders  occur  over  the  surface 
in  many  places.  Small  quantities  of  reddish  sandstone  fragments 
are  found  in  places  on  the  surface,  but  these  have  influenced  the  soil 
in  a  slight  degree  only.    The  drainage  is  good  and  no  alkali  is  present. 

AVON   GRAVELLY   SILT   LOAM. 

The  Avon  gravelly  silt  loam  consists  of  a  friable,  loose-structured, 
medium-brown  silt  loam,  from  10  to  18  inches  deep,  containing  a 
moderate  to  large  amount  of  quartzite  and  limestone  gravel.  The 
subsoil  is  a  reddish  to  reddish-brown  clay  loam  to  clay,  containing 
some  gravel.  It  is  more  or  less  compact,  has  a  moderate  to  low  lime 
content,  and  is  uniform  to  considerable  depths.  In  places  bowlders 
of  quartzite  and  limestone  are  found  upon  the  surface,  and  the  con- 
tent of  coarse  rock  material  makes  cultivation  difficult. 

The  type  has  a  small  extent.  It  occupies  a  position  on  high  moun- 
tain foot  slopes  along  the  east  and  south  sides  of  the  valley.  It  has 
a  moderately  to  steeply  sloping  topography,  and  is  considerably 
dissected  by  ravines  and  deep,  narrow  valleys.  It  is  thoroughly 
drained  and  no  trouble  from  alkali  occurs. 

The  type  occurs  about  the  broken  boundaries  of  the  heavier  types 
of  this  series  and  the  steep  slopes  of  old  ravines.  It  lies  above  sources 
of  water  supply  for  irrigation  and  is  topographically  poorly  adapted 
to  irrigation,  even  were  water  available.  It  is  generally  treeless,  but 
supports  a  growth  of  sage,  rabbit  bush,  and  other  desert  shrubs  and 
grasses.  It  is  best  suited  for  use  as  grazing  land  and  sells  for  $10  to 
$25  an  acre. 

Results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  soil  and  subsoil  are 
given  in  the  following  table: 


Mechanical  analyses  of  Avon  gravelly  silt  loam. 


Namber. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
saud. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

620643 

SoiL.. 

Per  cent. 
1.0 

2.5 

Per  cent. 
1.0 
4  4 

Per  cent. 
0.8 
4.5 

Per  cent. 
3.2 
9  4 

Per  cent. 
17.3 

17.7 

Per  cent. 
58.5 
36.3 

Percent. 
18.5 

520644 

Subsoil 

24.6 

The  following  samples  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOj):  No.  520643, 
1.52  per  cent;  No.  520644,  7.86  per  cent. 


ft 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    CACHE   VALLEY   AREA,   UTAH. 


AVON    SILT    LOAM. 


27 


The  Avon  silt  loam,  to  a  depth  of  10  to  22  inches,  consists  of  a 
medium-brown  to  grayish-brown  or  dark  reddish  brown  heavy  silt 
loam  which  in  places  contains  considerable  quantities  of  quartzite 
fragments  of  varving  sizes.  The  subi^oil  is  a  yellowish-brown  or 
light-brown  silty  clay  loam  or  silty  clay  extending  to  a  depth  of  (3 
feet  or  more.  It  has  a  compact  structure  and  a  moderate  to  high 
lime  content.  Occasionally  it  contains  a  few  pebbles,  mainly  of 
quartzite  and  limestone.  This  type  has  the  typical  derivation  given 
in  the  series  description,  but  as  mapped  includes  considerable  recent 
material,  derived  from  the  higher  slopes  and  distributed  as  local 
alluvial-fan  or  alluvial  surface  Avash  deposits,  which  in  this  case  it 
did  not  seem  advisable  to  attempt  to  differentiate. 

The  type  occupies  a  position  above  the  highest  Bonneville  terrace. 
It  is  not  extensive,  being  confined  to  a  few  small  bodies  in  the  east 
and  south  parts  of  the  valley.  It  occupies  a  position  high  on  the 
slopes  and  in  places  adjoins  the  Rough  stony  land.  The  type  has  a 
moderately  rolling  to  rough  topography,  and  is  more  or  less  dis- 
sected by  ravines,  giving  it  a  surface  which  is  too  uneven  for  tillage 
or  for  irrigation  in  most  places.  The  drainage  is  well  established 
and  the  soil  is  free  from  alkali. 

The  type  is  treeless,  but  supports  a  growth  of  grass.  It  occurs 
above  all  existing  canals  and  is  utilized  for  pasture  or  for  dry- 
farmed  crops.  Only  a  small  part  of  the  type  is  farmed,  but  where 
tilled  it  produces  ver}"  good  yields  of  wheat,  rye,  barley,  and  alfalfa. 
Land  of  this  type  sells  for  $15  to  $35  an  acre. 

Average  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  the  soil  and 
subsoil  are  given  in  the  following  table : 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Avon  silt  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

52060,';,       520627, 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
0.3 

.5 

Per  cent. 
0.9 

.9 

Per  cent. 
0.8 

Per  cent. 
2.3 

Per  cent. 
16.6 

IS.  6 

Per  cent. 
60.7 

47.0 

Per  cent. 
18.5 

520635,  520639. 

520606,       520628, 
520030,520640. 

Subsoil 

1.0 

3.4 

28.7 

The  fDllo-ying  sample  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOs):  No.  520640, 
9.31  per  cent. 

AVON  GRAVELLY  SILTY  CLAY  LOAM. 


The  Avon  gravelly  siltv  clay  loam  consists  of  10  to  18  inches  of 
brown  to  dark-brown  silty  clay  loam  containing  varving  amounts  of 
quartzite  and  gravel  cobbles  and  bowlders.  The  subsoil  to  a  depth 
of  6  feet  or  more  is  a  reddish-brown  to  light-brown  clay  loam  to  clay 


28 


FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU    OF    SOILS,  1913. 


containino:  varying:  quantities  of  subangular  gravel  and  a  moderate 
to  small  ((uantity  of  lime. 

Soil  of  this  type  is  confined  to  a  few  irregular  bodies  on  high 
mountain  foot  slopes  along  the  east  and  south  sides  of  the  valley. 
The  surface  is  usually  very  much  dissected  and  the  soil  unsuited  to 
tillaire  or  irrigation  even  were  water  available.  Some  grasses  and 
desert  shrubs  give  grazing  during  parts  of  the  year.  The  soil  contains 
some  humus  and  is  friable  and  granular  under  cultivation,  though 
difficult  to  till  on  account  of  the  high  content  of  gravel.  Wherever 
tillage  is  possible  dry-farmed  crops,  such  as  wheat  and  alfalfa, 
especially  for  seed,  are  the  products  best  suited  to  the  land. 

This  type  of  land  sells  for  $10  to  $30  an  acre,  depending  upon  the 
possibility  of  tillage. 

Results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  the  soil  and  subsoil 
of  this  t3q3e  are  given  in  the  following  table : 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Avon  gravelly  silty  clay  loam. 
[Fine  earth.] 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
saHd. 

Fine 

sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

sut. 

Clay. 

520G37 

.Soil 

Per  cent. 
1.3 
2.1 

Per  cent. 
1.4 
1.9 

Per  cent. 
1.1 
1.1 

Per  cent. 
4.3 
4.5 

Per  cent. 
16.6 

15.0 

Per  cent. 
52.4 
40.4 

Per  cent. 
23.1 

520638 

Subsoil 

35.2 

AVON    SILTY    CLAY    LOAM. 


The  Avon  silty  clay  loam  consists  of  12  to  20  inches  of  medium- 
brown  to  dark-brown  friable  heavy  silty  clay  loam.  The  subsoil  is 
similar  in  texture  to  the  surface  material,  but  it  is  pink  to  light 
yellowish  brown  in  color.  The  subsoil  is  more  calcareous  than  the 
soil,  in  places  being  slightly  mottled  with  lime  and  containing  small 
calcareous  nodules. 

The  surface  soil  is  normally  of  compact  structure,  but  contains  a 
moderate  to  large  amount  of  humus,  which,  with  the  lime  present, 
causes  it  to  crumble  into  a  well-pulverized  mass  Avhen  exposed  to  the 
weather  for  a  short  time.  In  prolonged  dry  periods,  also,  the  t3'pe 
cracks  quite  badW,  but  it  lacks  that  adobe  structure  common  in  many 
similar  soils  of  the  West. 

The  surface  of  the  Avon  silty  clay  loam  often  carries  varying 
quantities  of  quartzite  cobbles  and  bowlders.  On  sharp  ridges  and 
steep  slopes  these  are  so  numerous  that  tillage  is  impossible.  In 
other  places  the  type  is  practically  free  from  coarse  rock  fragments 
and  the  surface  is  favorable  for  farming. 


SOIL   SURVEY   OF   THE   CACHE  VALLEY  AREA^  LtxaH. 


29 


A  large  area  of  the  Avon  silty  clay  loam  is  mapped.  It  occurs 
on  the  mountain  foot  slopes  along  the  east  and  south  parts  of  the 
valley  from  5,500  to  nearly  0,000  feet  above  sea  level.  South  to 
southeast  of  Avon  there  is  a  moderately  uniform  body  of  this  soil 
Avhich  is  smooth  and  well  suited  for  farming.  The  soil  in  this  body 
is  most  t3'pical.  Usually  the  land  is  badly  dissected  and  too  rough 
for  tillage. 

In  its  native  state  this  type  supports  a  good  growth  of  grass,  with 
moderate  growths  of  willow,  wild  cherry,  service  berry,  and  maple 
along  the  creeks  and  on  well-protected  slopes. 

Wherever  the  type  has  been  farmed  it  has  given  good  yields  of 
grain.  It  lies  above  existing  irrigation  canals,  except  in  one  locality, 
and  must  continue  to  be  used  for  dry  farming.  The  areas  too  rough 
for  cultivation  furnish  good  grazing.  Many  perennial  streams  and 
springs  having  their  origin  on  this  type  supply  water  to  ranches 
lower  down  in  the  valley  and  to  cattle  grazing  upon  the  land.  Land 
of  this  type  sells  for  $5  to  $75  an  acre,  depending  upon  whether  it 
can  be  irrigated  or  farmed  or  is  so  rough  as  to  be  fit  only  for  grazing. 

The  average  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  soil  and 
subsoil  are  shown  in  the  following  table : 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Avon  silty  clay  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

520629,520689 

Soil 

Percent. 

0.2 

.6 

Per  cent. 
0.5 
2.6 

Per  cent. 
0.7 
2.8 

Per  cent. 
2.8 
5.4 

Per  cent. 
15.9 
12.6 

Per  cent. 
52.4 
36.8 

Per  cent. 
27.5 

520630,520690 

Subsoil 

39.5 

The  following  samples  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOa)*  No.  520630, 
6.79  per  cent;  No.  5206S9,  2.77  per  cent;  No.  52)690,  32.75  per  cent. 


Sterling  Series. 

The  soils  of  the  Sterling  series  are  light  yellowish  brown  to 
medium-brown  and  sometimes  rather  dark  brown,  and  are  under- 
lain by  light-gray  to  yellowish-brown  subsoils  of  calcareous  charac- 
ter. These  subsoils  rest  upon  a  bed  of  stratified  gravel  in  places, 
including  pockets  or  lenses  of  sand.  The  underlying  gravel  is  often 
coated  with  lime  carbonate.  This  series  of  soils  is  derived  from 
lake-laid  deposits  occurring  as  terraces,  delta  deposits,  bars,  beaches, 
embankments,  etc.,  about  basins  formerly  occupied  by  Quaternary 
lakes,  such  as  the  Bonneville  Basin  in  Utah.  Sometimes  the  depos- 
its have  been  subjected  to  much  subsequent  modification,  and  the 
material  as  recognized  includes  undifferentiated  reworked  material 
of  similar  mineralogical  derivation,  distributed  as  local  alluvial-fan 


30 


FIELD  OPERATIONS   OF    THE   BUREAU    OF    SOILS,  1913. 


deposits  or  as  accumulations  of  sheet  surface  wash.  In  the  Cache 
Valley  drainage  is  well  established  and  the  soils  are  free  from 
injurious  accumulations  of  alkali. 

In  mapping,'  the  Sterling  soils  are  sometimes  with  difficulty  sepa- 
rated from  adjacent  bodies  of  Hyrum  and  ISIillville  soils  and  may 
as  mapped  include  some  areas  of  these  soils. 

The  Sterling  soils  seem  to  have  been  formed  mainly  of  material 
derived  from  massive  limestone  rocks,  but  probably  include  some 
material  from  other  rocks. 

STERLING    GRAVELLY    COARSE    SANDY    LOAM. 

The  Sterling  gravelly  coarse  sandy  loam  consists  of  open-struc- 
tured medium-brown  coarse  sandy  loam.  The  subsoil  is  quite  simi- 
lar to  the  surface  soil  in  texture,  structure,  and  color  to  the  depth  of 
6  feet,  but  increases  in  lime  content.  It  is  underlain  by  a  bed  of 
gravel. 

The  type  occupies  an  ancient  beach  on  the  Provo  terrace  near 
Sterling,  and  has  a  ridgelike  topography.  It  covers  only  0.6  square 
mile. 

The  soil  is  thoroughly  drained  and  free  from  alkali,  and  in  its 
natural  state  supports  a  sparse  growth  of  scrubby  sage  and  some 
grasses.  Most  of  it  is  farmed.  Fair  yields  of  alfalfa  seed  are  ob- 
tained. With  water  for  irrigation,  the  type  gives  good  results  wnth 
apples,  plums,  and  sour  cherries.    It  sells  for  $25  to  $75  an  acre. 

A  mechanical  analysis  of  a  sample  of  soil  gave  the  following 
results : 

Mechanical  analysis  of  Sterling  (/ravelly  coarse  sandy  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

sat. 

Clay. 

520680 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
8.0 

Per  cent. 
41.4 

Per  cent. 
17.0 

Per  cent. 
6.4 

Per  cent. 
6.2 

Per  cent. 
14.4 

Per  cent. 
6  8 

STERLING   GRAVELLY    SANDY   LOAM. 


The  Sterling  gravelly  sandy  loam  consists  of  10  to  20  inches  of 
porous  medium-brown  to  grayish-browm  sandy  loam  containing 
varying  amounts  of  waterworn  gravel.  The  subsoil  is  a  light  yel- 
lowish gray  or  grayish-browm  gravelly  loam  to  a  depth  of  6  feet. 
The  soil  contains  a  small  to  moderate  amount  of  organic  matter. 
The  subsoil  is  open,  porous,  and  incoherent  and  loses  its  moisture 
rapidly.    The  lime  content  of  the  subsoil  is  high. 


J 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    CACHE   VALLEY   AREA,   UTAH, 


3X 


The  type  occurs  in  a  number  of  bodies  from  Smithfiekl  southward 
to  the  vicinity  of  Hyrum.  It  occupies  areas  of  almost  level  to  gently 
sloping  topography  on  the  Provo  terrace  of  Lake  Bonneville  and  its 
immediate  slopes.  It  is  well  to  excessively  drained  and  has  a  smooth 
surface  well  suited  for  irrigation.  Xo  alkali  occurs,  but  the  lower 
slopes  below  the  terrace  are  sometimes  wet  from  seepage  water,  as 
is  the  case  near  Hyrum. 

In  its  native  state  this  type  supports  a  small  growth  of  sage  and 
other  desert  shrubs  and  grasses.  It  is  all  capable  of  being  irrigated 
and  witK  water  can  be  used  for  the  production  of  apples,  pears, 
cherries,  and  bush  and  vine  fruits.  It  is  now  used  for  grain  and 
alfalfa  production  mainly,  of  which  good  yields  are  obtained.  "With- 
out irrigation,  however,  the  type  will  not  hold  enough  moisture  to 
matur-f  crops  properly. 

This  type  should  rank  among  the  choicest  fruit  soils  of  the  valley. 
Its  elevated  position  makes  the  danger  from  frost  damage  less,  and 
there  is  no  likelihood  of  injury  from  a  water-logged  condition  of  the 
soil  or  from  accumulations  of  alkali. 

Land  of  this  type  sells  for  $50  to  $250  an  acre,  depending  upon  its 
development  and  location. 

Average  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  soil  and  sub' 
soil  are  given  in  the  following  table : 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Sterling  gravelly  sandy  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sajid. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

520647,  520661 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
6.6 
9.2 

Per  cent. 
11.8 
20.5 

Per  cent. 
7.8 
17.6 

Per  cent. 
13.2 

1.5.6 

Per  cent. 
20.9 

10.7 

Per  cent. 
25.9 
16.9 

Per  cent. 
13  5 

520648,520662 

Subsoil 

9.4 

Thefollowing  samples  contained  more  than  one-half  ot  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOs):  No.  520647, 
8.61  per  cent;  No.  520648,  33.34  per  cent;  No.  520661,  32.45  per  cent;  No.  520662,  3S.54  per  cent. 


STERLING   FINE    S.\NDY   LOAM. 


The  Sterling  fine  sandy  loam  consists  of  a  medium-l)rown  to 
grayish-brown  fine  sandy  loam,  12  to  20  inches  deep,  containing  in 
places  a  small  amount  of  gravel.  The  subsoil  is  a  light  yellowish 
gray  to  light  yellowish  brown  fine  sand  to  clay  loam  to  6  feet  or  more, 
and  is  underlain  by  gravel  beds.  The  surface  soil  contains  a  moderate 
amount  of  organic  matter,  and  the  subsoil  is  high  in  lime. 

The  Sterling  fine  sandy  loam  occurs  on  the  Provo  terrace  southwest 
of  Hyrum  and  northeast  of  Logan.  It  has  a  smooth,  uniform  surface, 
well  suited  to  irrigation,  and  is  well  drained  and  free  from  alkali  or 


32 


FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF   THE  BUREAU    OF    SOILS,   1913. 


the  danger  of  its  accumulation.  The  Sterling  fine  sandy  loam  is 
now  used  mainly  for  grain  and  alfalfa  gl•o^Ying,  but  the  farmers  are 
beginning  to  realize  its  value  for  other  crops,  including  fruits  and 
vegetables. 

Practically  all  the  type  is  served  by  irrigation  canals.  Land  with 
the  water  rights  sells  for  $150  to  $300  an  acre,  depending  upon  loca- 
tion and  development.  Under  dry-farming  conditions  this  type  sells 
for  $75  to  $100  an  acre.  The  water  supply  is  restricted  over  parts 
of  the  type,  and  at  present  the  cost  of  Avater  is  relatively  high. 

The  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  the  soil  and  sub- 
soil follow : 

Mechanical  analyHes  of  Sterling  fine  sandy  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

520681 

Soil 

Per  cent. 

0.4 

.5 

Per  cent. 
5.0 
4.2 

Per  cent. 
12.5 
8.2 

Per  cent. 
27.2 
38.3 

Per  cent. 
16.0 
20.0 

Per  cent. 
25.6 
14.4 

Per  cent. 
13.1 

52C682 

Subsoil 

14.3 

The  following  sample  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOs):  No.  520682, 
42.59  per  cent. 

STERLING    LOAM. 


Typically  the  Sterling  loam  to  a  depth  of  12  to  22  inches  consists 
of  a  friable,  well-granulated  light-brown  to  rather  dark-brown  loam. 
The  subsoil  is  a  reddish-brown  to  yellowish-brown  or  gray  loam  to 
clay  loam,  extending  to  a  depth  of  6  feet  or  more.  This  rests  upon  a 
substratum  of  gravel  many  feet  in  thickness.  The  subsoil  is  very 
calcareous.  Rounded  water  worn  gravel  sometimes  occurs  in  small 
quantities  in  the  soil  and  subsoil. 

The  type  is  located  on  the  Provo  terraces,  where  it  is  confined  to 
a  few  small  areas  along  the  east  and  south  parts  of  the  valley. 

The  surface,  which  slopes  very  gently  valley  ward,  is  uniform  and 
smooth.  The  type  is  very  well  drained  and  no  danger  from  alkali 
occurs. 

For  the  most  part  the  origin  of  this  soil  is  typically  that  brought 
out  in  the  series  description,  but  as  mapped  it  includes  small  imdif- 
ferential  areas  of  later  alluvial-fan  deposits. 

In  its  natural  state  the  type  supports  a  sparse  growth  of  grass 
and  sagelirush.  ISIost  of  it  has  been  placed  under  cultivation,  being 
used  mainly  for  the  growing  of  small  grains,  alfalfa,  sugar  beets, 
and  potatoes.  All  this  soil  is  irrigal)le.  It  ranks  among  the  best  soils 
of  the  area  for  the  prodiictifm  of  orchard  fruits  and  the  area  de- 
voted to  fruit  production  is  gradually  extending. 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    CACHE    VALLEY   AREA,   UTAH. 


33 


Verj'^  few  farmsteads  are  located  on  this  type,  though  it  is  well 
suited  for  such  use.  Land  with  water  rights  sells  for  $150  to  $300  an 
acre,  according  to  location  and  state  of  development. 

The  average  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  the  soil 
and  subsoil  are  given  in  the  following  table : 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Sterling  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

520651,520657 

Soil 

Per  cent. 

0.4 

.1 

Per  cent. 
1.1 
1.4 

Per  cent. 
1.6 
1.9 

Per  cent. 
7.4 

8.9 

Per  cent. 
29.6 
32.9 

Per  cent. 
45.6 
40.8 

Per  cent. 
14.3 
13.7 

5206.52,520658 

Subsoil 

T'.ie  folb  vin;^  samples  cjatained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOa):  No.  520651, 
0.59  per  cent;  No.  520G52,  25.93  per  cent;  No.  520657,  19.77  per  cent:  No.  520058,  57.40  per  cent. 

Trenton  Series. 

The  Trenton  series  includes  types  with  medium-brown,  light 
grayish  brown  or'  pinkish-brown  surface  soils,  and  pinkish-gray  to 
light  pinkish  brown  or  yellowish-gray  subsoils,  frequently  mottled 
with  white,  yellow,  red,  or  greenish  colors.  The  upper  subsoil  is 
highly  calcareous.  Materials  giving  these  soils  are  composed  of  lake- 
laid  sediments  derived  from  a  variety  of  igneous,  metamorphic,  and 
sedimentary  rocks,  limestones  probably  predominating. 

The  Trenton  series  of  soils  is  the  most  extensive  in  the  area  sur- 
veyed. It  occupies  portions  of  the  valley  floor  and  consists  of  sedi- 
ments deposited  in  Lake  Bonneville  at  a  time  when  that  lake  occupied 
the  valley. 

TRENTON    FINE    SANDY    LOAM. 


The  Trenton  fine  sandy  loam,  to  a  depth  of  12  to  20  inches,  con- 
sists of  a  medium  grayish  brown  to  light  grayish  brown  light  fine 
sandy  loam.  The  sul)soil  is  a  light  pinkish  gray  to  browni.sh-gray 
fine  sandy  loam  to  sandy  clay.  The  lower  subsoil  is  high  in  lime 
and  is  underlain  by  a  deep  substratum  of  pinkish  lake-laid  silts  and 
clays. 

The  type  occurs  in  a  belt  from  one-fourth  to  one  mile  Avide  along 
both  sides  of  Bear  River  in  the  central  and  northern  central  parts 
of  the  survey.  It  is  extensively  developed  at  Lewiston,  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  valley  and  is  also  found  northeast  of  "Wellsville  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  the  valley.  It  does  not  occur  west  of  the  junction 
of  Clay  Slough  with  Bear  River. 
72139°— 15 a 


34  FIELD  OPERATIONS   OF    THE  BUREAU   OF    SOILS,  1913. 

The  Trenton  fine  santh^  loam  lies  higher  than  the  heavier  types  of 
this  series  and  usually  slopes  gently  from  the  river  bluffs  outward.  It 
has  a  smooth  surface  and  sufficient  slope  for  irrigation.  It  is  gener- 
ally free  from  overflow,  the  drainage  is  good,  and  only  in  depressed 
areas  has  alkali  given  any  trouble.  Overirrigation  in  the  vicinity 
of  Lewiston  and  some  other  places  is  raising  the  water  table,  and 
considerable  damage  may  result  in  the  future  unless  precautions  arc 
taken  to  keep  the  ground  Avater  at  a  proper  depth  below  the  surface. 

Sage  and  certain  grasses  constitute  the  native  vegetation  of  this 
type  where  well  drained,  with  salt  grass,  alkali  weeds,  and  some 
greasewood  in  the  poorly  drained  depressions  and  low-lying  areas. 

This  type  ranks  high  among  the  soils  of  the  valley.  It  warms 
early  in  the  spring  and  has  a  wide  range  of  profitable  crops.  Sugar 
beets,  grain,  alfalfa,  potatoes,  corn,  and  garden  truck  are  the  main 
crops  grown.  The  yields  on  this  soil  decrease  more  quickly  than  on 
the  heavier  soils  and  care  must  be  exercised  to  keep  up  the  organic- 
matter  suppl}^  Alfalfa  and  manure  are  the  main  sources  depended 
on  for  nitrogen  and  humus  supply,  no  commercial  fertilizer  being 
used. 

The  average  yield  of  crops  is  kept  down  by  the  lax  methods  em- 
ployed by  some  of  the  farmers.  Where  the  practices  are  good  high 
yields  are  possible.  In  1912  potatoes  yielded  nearly  700  bushels  per 
acre  on  a  small  tract  of  this  type  in  Lewiston,  and  yields  of  250  to 
350  bushels  per  acre  are  obtained  with  ordinary  care.  Sugar  beets 
yield  from  20  to  25  tons  per  acre  on  land  in  good  condition.  (See 
PI.  Ill,  fig.  1.)  Yields  of  400  to  600  bushels  of  onions  per  acre  are 
easily  possible.  Alfalfa  produces  from  3  to  7  tons  per  acre,  depend- 
ing upon  the  care  and  attention  given  the  crop;  wheat  from  30  to 
60  bushels;  and  oats  60  to  100  bushels  per  acre.  Other  crops  suited 
to  this  soil  yield  equally  as  well.  These  yields  are  on  the  irrigated 
areas;  without  irrigation  the  soil  produces  only  moderate  yields  of 
the  small  grains,  alfalfa,  and  alfalfa  seed. 

Several  prosperous  towns  and  settlements  are  located  upon  this 
type,  chief  among  which  are  Lewiston,  Trenton,  Stevenson,  and  Ben- 
son. Where  irrigation  is  possible  on  this  type  farmers  generally  live 
upon  it.  The  land  sells  for  $100  to  $350  an  acre,  depending  upon 
the  location  and  degree  of  improvement.  The  roads  are  generally 
sandy  and  heavy  in  dry  weather,  but  moderately  good  at  other  times 
of  the  year.  The  great  ease  with  which  this  soil  can  be  handled  and 
the  slight  wear  upon  machinery  make  farming  very  attractive  and 
profitable  upon  it. 

Apples  do  very  well,  but  the  type  is  not  as  suitable  for  the  pro- 
duction of  this  fruit  as  are  the  mountain  foot  slope  soils,  on  account 
of  the  less  satisfactory  drainage  conditions  and  the  greater  likelihood 
of  damage  by  freezing  and  frost. 


I 


SOIL    SURVEY   OF    THE    CACHE    VALLEY   AEEA,   UTAH.  35 

i 

Dairying,  hog  raising,  and  poultry  raising  are  thriving  industries. 

All  in  all,  this  type  is  the  best  general-purpose  soil  in  the  valley. 
Twenty  to  thirty  acres  under  irrigation  are  ample  for  the  support 
and  comfort  of  a  fair-sized  famih^,  and  the  greatest  drawback  to 
further  development  is  the  individual  control  of  large  tracts. 

Trenton  -fine  sandy  loam^  heavy  phase. — In  addition  to  the  soil  as 
already  described,  a  heavy  phase  of  the  type  was  mapped. 

The  soil  of  this  phase  to  a  depth  of  12  to  22  inches  is  a  light  grayish 
brown  to  medium  graj'ish  brown  fine  sandy  loam.  It  sometimes 
assumes  a  rather  dark  gray  color.  The  subsoil  to  about  4  feet  is  a 
brownish-gray  or  yellowish-gray  calcareous  silt  loam  or  fine  sandy 
loam,  often  becoming  heavier  in  texture  with  depth  to  5  feet,  where 
it  changes  to  a  pinkish-gray  silty  clay  loam  to  silty  clay.  The  sur- 
face soil  is  high  in  humus,  friable,  and  easily  tilled.  This  phase  of 
the  type  is  light  in  texture  near  the  typical  fine  sandy  loam,  but  be- 
comes heavier  as  the  loam  or  clay  types  of  the  series  are  approached. 

Part  of  the  phase  lying  a  short  distance  northwest  of  Benson  is 
marked  by  small  sink  holes  from  1  foot  to  several  feet  in  diameter  and 
in  places  10  feet  or  more  deep.  These  are  attributed  to  deposits  of 
gypsum  in  the  underlying  formations,  which  have  been  dissolved 
away,  allowing  the  surface  material  to  subside.  These  sink  holes  are 
not  general  over  the  type,  which  has  for  the  most  part  a  uniform 
surface  and  enough  gradient  for  irrigation. 

The  heavy  phase  occurs  in  a  few  places  over  the  valley  proper  and 
frequently  as  a  narrow  strip  between  the  bodies  of  typical  Trenton 
fine  sandy  loam  and  the  heavier  types  of  the  series.  It  occurs  mainly 
in  the  central  part  of  the  valley,  along  the  course  of  Bear  Kiver. 

The  soil  is  usually  well  drained,  but  occasionally  on  its  lower  mar- 
gin seepage  water  has  collected  to  some  extent  and  some  alkali  has 
accumulated.  Excessive  irrigation  on  the  higher  soils  is  responsible 
for  this  condition. 

Sagebrush  and  a  scant  growth  of  grasses  form  the  vegetation  be- 
fore cultivation.  Nearly  all  of  this  phase  is  now  under  cultivation. 
The  crops  and  industries  are  about  the  same  as  on  the  typical  soil. 
The  yields  compare  favorably  with  those  on  the  latter.  Fewer  farm 
buildings  are  situated  on  the  phase,  however,  and  it  is  used  more 
extensively  for  dry  farming. 

Land  values  vary  considerably,  but  in  general  they  are  lower  than 
for  the  typical  Trenton  fine  sandy  loam. 

Below  are  given  the  average  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of 
samples  of  the  soil,  subsoil,  and  lower  subsoil  of  the  typical  Trenton 
fine  sandy  loam  and  the  soil  and  subsoil  of  its  heavy  phase : 


36  FIELD   OPERATIONS    OF    THE   BUREAU    OF    SOILS,  1913. 

Mcchanicdl  analyses  of  Trenton  fine  sandy  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

Typical: 
520607,5206101.. 

Soil 

Per  cent. 

0.1 

.0 

.0 

0.0 
.0 

Per  cent. 
0.2 

.1 

.1 

0.1 
.3 

Per  cent. 
2.1 
2.0 
5.0 

1.1 
1.1 

Per  cent. 
40.7 
44.4 
57.9 

19.9 
20.4 

Per  cent. 
28.2 
32.4 
27.3 

37.6 
33.9 

Percent. 

18.4 

10.6 

5.5 

30.1 
28.7 

Percent. 
10.3 

520608,5206102.. 
520609 

Subsoil 

Lower  sub- 
soil. 

Soil 

10.0 
3.9 

Heavy  phase: 
520612,5206103.. 
520613,5206104.. 

11.2 

Subsoil 

15.2 

The  following  samples  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOs):  No.  520608, 
4.25  per  cent;  No.  520609, 12.06  per  cent;  No.  520613,  20.8S  per  cent;  No.  5206101,  0.54  per  cent;  No.  5206102, 
17.29  per  cent. 

TRENTON    LOAM. 

The  Trenton  loam  consists  of  10  to  1*2  inches  of  grayish-brown  to 
dark  grayish  brown  heavy  loam.  The  subsoil,  which  is  usually, 
though  not  always,  heavier  than  the  surface  material,  is  a  pinkish 
to  light  reddish  gray  loam  or  silty  clay  loam  to  clay,  24  to  32  inches 
deep,  grading  into  a  light-gray  to  light  yellowish  gray  or  pinkish- 
gray  silty  clay  to  clay  of  high  lime  content.  The  substratum  is  a 
pinkish  to  mottled  red,  3'ellow,  or  greenish  clay,  with  occasional 
seams  of  fine  sand  or  silt. 

This  tj'pe  occurs  only  in  a  few  small  areas  scattered  over  the  val- 
ley floor,  generally  next  to  areas  of  the  clay  of  the  series. 

Its  surface  is  generally  smooth  and  level  to  veiy  gently  undulat- 
ing, and  favorable  to  irrigation.  It  occupies  a  position  below  the 
Trenton  fine  sandy  loam  and  receives  the  drainage  from  the  higher 
lying  soils.  This  has  given  it  a  high  water  table  in  most  places 
and  poor  to  partial  drainage. 

The  low-lying  position  of  this  type  and  its  high  water  table  make 
the  conditions  favorable  for  the  accumulation  of  alkali.  Many  areas 
are  already  seriously  affected,  and  are  increasing  in  extent  and  con- 
centration each  year.  Chloride,  sulphate,  and  carbonate  of  sodium 
or  black  alkali  are  the  predominating  salts. 

This  soil,  where  affected  with  alkali,  supports  a  moderate  growth 
of  salt  grass  and  some  greasewood;  elsewhere  the  vegetation  con- 
sists of  sagebrush  and  grasses. 

Dry-farmed  wheat,  oats,  flax,  and  alfalfa  yield  heavily  on  the 
better-drained  areas.  Sugar  beets,  onions,  Canada  field  peas,  and 
truck  crops  thrive  on  the  areas  free  from  alkali. 

Very  few  farm  buildings  appear  upon  this  type,  as  its  low-lying 
position  makes  it  unsuitable  for  such  use.  It  is  generally  owned 
and  farmed  with  more  desirable  land.  Some  of  it  is  used  for 
pasture. 


J 


SOIL    SURVEY   OF    THE    CACHE   VALLEY   AREA,   UTAH. 


37 


Dry-farming  land  of  this  type  sells  for  $25  to  $60  an  acre,  depend- 
ing upon  the  degree  of  improvement,  location,  and  proportion  of 
the  tract  well  drained. 

The  following  table  gives  the  average  results  of  mechanical  analy- 
ses of  samples  of  the  soil  and  subsoil  of  this  type : 

Mechanical  analyxcf;  of  Trenton  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine         Coarse 
gravel.        sand. 

Medium 

sand. 

Fine 

sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

sut. 

Clay. 

520C10         520699, 

Soil     

Per  cent. 
0.0 

.0 

Per  cent. 
0.4 

.2 

Per  cent. 
0.8 

.5 

Per  cent. 
12.0 

2.4 

Per  cent. 
25.2 

24.6 

Per  cent. 
40.9 

40.2 

Per  cent. 
20  4 

520610". 

520011,     5206100, 
5206108. 

Subsoil 

32.1 

The  follo'ving  samples  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOs):  No.  520610 
1  per  cent;  No.  520699,  2.40  per  cent;  No.  5206100,  21.56  per  cent;  No.  5206107,  2S.45  per  cent;  No.  5206108) 
4.50  per  cent. 

TREXTOX   CLAY  LOAM. 

The  surface  soil  of  the  Trenton  claj^  loam  is  a  light  gra^'ish  brown 
to  dark  grayish  brown,  sometimes  pinkish,  clay  loam. 

The  upper  subsoil  is  generall}^  similar  to  the  surface  soil,  though 
usually  slightly  lighter  gvaj.  The  deeper  subsoil  is  a  compact  silty 
clay  loam  or  silty  clay  of  pinkish-gray  color  and  high  lime  content. 

The  soil  and  subsoil  material  is  derived  from  lacustrine  sediments 
derived  from  a  variety  of  rocks,  in  which,  however,  limestone  material 
probably  predominates,  and  transported  by  streams  to  ancient  Lake 
Bonneville  in  the  waters  of  which  they  were  deposited.  The  type 
occupies  the  comparatively  recent  slightly  sloping  lake  bottom.  A 
single  body  of  this  soil  is  mapped  about  2  miles  northwest  of  Rich- 
mond. The  surface  is  smooth  or  but  slightly  uneven  and  well  adapted 
to  irrigation.  Alkali  is  present  only  locally  and  in  small  quantities, 
the  natural  drainage  being  much  better  in  this  type  than  in  the 
other  lower  lying  soils  of  the  series.  The  type  is  utilized  mainly  for 
general  farming,  but  is  of  minor  importance  among  the  soils  of  the 
area  on  account  of  its  small  extent. 


TRENTON   SILTY   CLAY  LOAM. 

The  Trenton  silty  clay  loam  to  a  depth  of  10  to  18  inches  is  a 
medium  grayish  brown  to  light  pinkish  brown  or  pinkish-gray  clay 
loam  of  silty  clay  loam  texture.  The  subsoil  is  a  light  yelloAvish  or 
light  pinkish  brown  clay  with  a  high  lime  content  at  lower  depths. 
The  soil  and  subsoil  resemble  the  Trenton  clay  in  color,  but  there  is 
little  or  no  mottling  present  in  the  subsoil. 


38 


FIELD    OPERATIOXS    OF    THE   BUREAU    OF    SOILS,   1913. 


Areas  of  this  type  occur  on  gentle  slopes  along  the  margin  of  the 
valley  floor,  and  southeast  of  Newton  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Trenton. 
They  are  moderately  to  well  drained,  though  along  their  lower  mar- 
gins irrigation  has  been  excessive  and  below  canals  seepage  has 
caused  water-logged  areas  and  alkali  accumulation. 

Dry-farmed  crops  yield  well  on  this  type  and  the  yields  under  irri- 
gation are  heavier  than  on  the  clay  of  the  series.  It  is  utilized  mainly 
for  the  production  of  gi-ains,  alfalfa,  and  sugar  beets.  Its  fair  to 
good  slope  makes  it  better  suited  to  irrigation  than  the  Trenton  clay. 

Land  on  this  type  sells  for  $50  to  $100  an  acre  without  water  rights. 

The  average  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  the  soil 
and  subsoil  follow : 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Trenton  silty  clay  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

520685,5206109 

Soil 

Per  cent. 

0.3 

.1 

Per  cent. 

0.6 

.1 

Per  cent. 

0.8 

.1 

Per  cent. 
4.2 
.6 

Per  cent. 

12.3 

4.5 

Per  cent. 
53.1 

45.7 

Per  cent. 
28.6 

520686,5206110.... 

Subsoil 

48.7 

The  following  samples  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOa):  No.  520685, 
1.79  per  cent;  No.  5206S6,  34.81  per  cent;  No.  5206110,  29.45  per  cent. 


TBENTON     CLAY. 


Typically,  the  Trenton  clay  consists  of  a  pinkish-gray  or  light 
yellowish  gray  or  grayish-brown  compact  clay  of  medium  to  heavy 
texture.  The  soil  varies  in  depth  from  8  to  12  inches  and  rests  upon 
a  heavy,  tenacious,  pinkish  to  light  yellowish  gray  clay  of  close 
structure  and  high  lime  content.  The  substratum  is  a  pinkish  to 
yellowish-gray  hea\^  clay  containing  small  seams  of  silt  or  fine 
sand. 

Where  drainage  is  not  well  established  the  subsoil  is  somewhat 
mottled  with  red,  yellow,  and  white.  The  flatter  parts  of  the  type 
also  are  lighter  in  color  than  the  more  uneven  parts,  owing  to  the 
effects  of  poorer  drainage  and  the  presence  of  standing  water  dur- 
ing the  periods  of  wet  weather.  Such  places  are  more  or  less  pud- 
dled also,  and  are  usually  low  in  organic  matter.  The  higher  and 
more  hummocky  parts  are  pinker  in  color,  but  appear  light  gray  on 
the  surface  when  dry. 

The  Trenton  clay  is  the  second  most  extensive  soil  in  the  area 
surveyed,  covering  a  large  part  of  the  valley  floor.  It  is  most 
extensively  developed  west  and  southwest  of  Richmond,  Smithfield, 
and  Logan,  and  east  of  Newton.  The  type  occurs  upon  the  com- 
paratively recent  bed  of  Lake  Bonneville  and  presents  a  generally 
level  appearance.     Closer  inspection,  however,  shows  the  surface  to 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE   CACHE   VALLEY   AREA,   UTAH. 


39 


be  quite  huminocky  and  irregular  in  most  places.  The  most  typical 
body  lies  about  2^  miles  south  of  Lewiston.  Here  the  surface 
features  are  more  uniform,  the  only  irregularities  being  small  hol- 
lows, gullies,  and  beds  of  intermittent  stream  ways. 

The  surface  of  this  soil  is  gently  sloping.  Drainage  is  poor  to 
fair.  Irrigation  on  the  higher-lying  lands  near-by  is  causing  con- 
siderable seepage  to  collect  in  places  and  areas  which  were  well 
drained  at  one  time  are  now  becoming  water-logged  and  unfit  for 
tillage.  Some  alkali,  mainly  chlorides  and  sulphates  of  sodium,  has 
accumulated  in  the  poorly  drained  areas.  In  its  natural  condition 
this  soil  supports  a  heavy  growth  of  sage  and  a  sparse  growth  of 
grasses.  In  depressions,  where  alkali  occurs,  greasewood  and  salt 
grass  predominate. 

Dry-farmed  grain  and  alfalfa  are  the  only  crops  grown  on  the 
Trenton  clay.  Its  crop  range  is  restricted,  and  much  of  it  is  used 
as  pasture.  The  soil  is  difficult  to  plow,  but  when  well  tilled  it 
breaks  down  into  a  granular  seed  bed,  and  the  better-drained  areas 
give  good  yields. 

Land  of  this  type  sells  for  $25  to  $G0  an  acre,  depending  upon  the 
location  and  development. 

Average  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  soil  and 
subsoil  are  given  in  the  following  table : 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Trenton  clay. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  iine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

520603,520687 

Soil 

Per  cent. 

0.0 

.0 

Per  cent. 

0.1 

.1 

Per  cent. 

0.2 

.1 

Per  cent. 
1.4 
.3 

Per  cent. 
4.9 
2.7 

Per  cent. 
37.2 
44.9 

Per  cent. 
56.3 

520604,520688 

Subsoil 

52.0 

The  foUowing  samples  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOs):  No.  520687, 
3.36  per  cent;  No.  520688,  30.36  per  c«nt. 

MiLLViLLE  Series. 


The  Millville  series  is  characterized  by  medium  to  light-brown  or 
grayish-brown  soils  and  light  yellowish  gray  or  pinkish-gray  to  light- 
yellowish  calcareous  subsoils.  The  subsoils  often  appear  quite  silty 
and  are  underlain  by  a  substratum  of  fine  and  usually  quite  compact 
lake-laid  sediments.  The  series  consist  of  old,  narrow,  eroded  lake 
terraces,  alluvial  fans  and  foot  slopes,  the  material  thus  being  partly 
alluvial  and  partly  lacustrine.  The  series  differs  from  the  Mendon 
series  in  color,  humus  content,  origin,  the  generally  lighter  texture 
of  subsoil,  and  adaptability  to  crops.  The  ^lillville  series  originated 
from  the  massive  crystalline  limestones  of  the  Wasatch  Mountains 
and  is  quite  extensively  developed  along  the  base  of  the  mountains. 


40 


FIELD   OPERATIOXS   OF    THE   BURE.VU    OF    SOILS,  1913. 


The  topograph}'  is  of  sloping  or  rolling  to  dissected  character,  but  is 
in  general  not  unfavorable  to  cultivation  and  the  use  of  farm  machin- 
ery.  The  drainage  oven  most  of  the  series  is  very  good,  but  a  high- 
water  table  and  some  alkali  occur  in  places  near  the  lower  margin, 
where  springs  are  frequent. 


MILLVILLE   GRAVELLY    LOAM. 


The  Millville  gravelly  loam,  to  a  depth  of  10  to  18  inches,  consists 
of  a  grayish-brown  to  light-brown,  friable,  granular  loam,  carrying 
varying  quantities  of  graA'el.  The  subsoil,  which  extends  to  a  depth 
of  6  feet  or  more,  is  light  grayish  brown  to  light  yellowish  gray  cal- 
careous gravelly  loam  to  gravell}^  sand.  The  gravel  content  of  the 
subsoil  is  much  greater  than  that  of  the  surface  soil. 

Small  to  fairly  large  bodies  of  this  soil  are  located  on  the  mountain 
foot  slopes  along  the  eastern  and  western  sides  of  the  valley.  They 
have  a  smooth,  uniform  surface  in  most  places  and  need  little  leveling 
to  prepare  them  for  irrigation.  In  general  the  type  is  well  drained 
and  free  from  alkali.  Its  position  on  the  mountjiin  slopes  is  high 
enough  to  give  it  freedom  from  severe  freezes  in  spring. 

All  the  Millville  gravelly  loam  is  farmed  under  irrigation,  being 
used  for  the  production  of  grain  and  alfalfa. 

Eesults  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  soil  and  subsoil  are 
given  in  the  following  table: 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Millville  gravelly  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

'Clay. 

520072 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
4.4 
5.9 

Per  cent. 
3.7 

S.4 

Per  cent. 
2.5 
6.G 

Percent. 
5.3 
14.0 

Per  cent. 
20.2 
21.4 

Per  cent. 

48.9 
31.4 

Per  cent. 
15.2 

520673 

Subsoil 

12  7 

The  folio  ■.'ing  sample  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOj):  No.  520673, 
33.47  per  cent. 

MILLVILLE   LOAM. 

The  Millville  loam  consists  of  15  to  22  inches  of  a  medium-brown 
to  grayish-brown  or  dark-brown  loam,  high  in  silt,  smooth-textured, 
and  granular.  Generally  the  subsoil  is  a  loam  or  a  silty  clay  loam  of 
a  light  yellowish  gray  or  pinkish-gray  or  light-yellowish  color, 
though  the  texture  varies  and  may  be  of  any  class  from  fine  sandy 
loam  to  clay.  Between  Smithfield  and  Logan  thin  seams  of  fine  sand 
also  frequently  occur  in  the  subsoil  of  this  type.  The  subsoil  con- 
tains much  lime  and  is  open  and  permeable. 

Bodies  of  this  soil  lie  along  the  east  side  of  the  valley  and  west  of 
Mendon  and  Clarkston.    It  has  a  gently  sloping  topography  and  the 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    CACHE    VALLEY   AREA,   UTAH,  41 

drainage  is  generally  good.  Alkali  occurs  only  in  areas  near  the 
foot  of  the  slopes,  in  places  where  the  "vvater  table  is  within  2  or  3 
feet  of  the  surface.  At  present  the  quantity  is  small,  but  it  will  in- 
crease unless  the  ground  water  is  lowered  by  drainage. 

This  is  a  relatively  extensive  and  important  agricultural  soil.  It 
is  practically  all  under  tillage  and  most  of  it  is  under  irrigation.  On 
the  west  and  south  sides  of  the  valley  it  is  used  mainly  for  dry- 
farmed  crops,  owing  to  the  inadequate  water  supply  there.  It  is 
most  highly  developed  along  the  east  side  of  the  valley,  where  it 
ranks  among  the  choicest  lands  of  the  valley  for  the  production  of 
general  farm  crops  and  late  truck.  The  better  drained  parts  lying 
well  up  the  mountain  slopes  are  suitable  for  orchard  sites.  Sugar 
beets  find  almost  ideal  conditions  on  this  type.  The  soil  responds  well 
to  applications  of  manure  and  the  plowing  under  of  leguwiinous  crops. 
The  yields  of  all  crops  grown  are  heavy.  Land  of  this  type  sells  for 
$50  to  $300  an  acre,  depending  on  its  location  and  suitableness  for  the 
production  of  special  crops. 

Millville  loam^  light  phase. — The  Millville  loam,  light  phase,  to  a 
depth  of  l")  to  24  inches,  consists  of  a  medium-brown  to  grayish- 
brown,  fine-textured,  friable,  granular  silty  loam  of  slightly  ligliter 
texture  than  the  typical  ^Millville  loam. 

The  subsoil  is  a  yellowish-brown  to  light  yellowish  gray  or  pink- 
ish-gray silt  loam  to  silty  clay  loam  with  small  seams  of  fine  sand  or 
silt  in  places.  At  lower  depths  the  subsoil  is  usually  heavier  than 
near  the  surface.    It  is  moderately  well  supplied  with  lime. 

This  phase  of  the  type  has  a  relatively  small  extent,  but  is  never- 
theless an  important  agricultural  soil.  It  is  confined  to  the  eastern 
and  southern  portions  of  the  valley,  where  it  occupies  the  mountain 
foot  slopes  below  the  highest  terrace  of  Lake  Bonneville.  The  sur- 
face is  moderately  sloping  and  quite  uniform,  giving  it  good  drain- 
age and  consequent  freedom  from  alkali  accumulations. 

All  the  light  phase  areas  are  farmed  under  irrigation.  Small 
grains,  corn,  alfalfa,  and  truck  are  the  important  crops.  There  are 
filso  some  small  orchards  on  the  type.  The  open,  friable  nature  of 
the  soil  makes  it  suitable  to  a  wider  range  of  crops  than  now  grown. 

Some  of  the  most  promising  young  orchards  in  the  valley  are 
located  on  this  soil.  Jonathan,  Gano.  Rome  Beauty,  and  Ben  Davis 
are  the  apples  now  grown.  The  fruit  colors  well  and  has  a  good 
flaA'or. 

Manv  prosperous  farmsteads  are  located  near  and  on  this  phase  of 
the  Millville  loam.  The  land  sells  for  $200  to  $300  an  acre,  with 
Avater  rights. 

Average  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  the  soil  and 
subsoil  of  the  typical  Millville  loam  and  its  light  phase  are  given  in 
the  follow injr  table : 


42  FIELD   OPERATIOXS   OF    THE   BUREAU    OF    SOILS,   1913. 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Millville  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

Typical: 
520659, 520667. . . 

Soil 

Per  cent. 

0.3 

.4 

0.1 
.1 

Per  cent. 
0.9 
1.1 

0.3 
.1 

Per  cent. 
1.1 
1.3 

0.5 
.2 

Per  cent. 
7.6 
9.3 

6.3 
3.4 

Per  cent. 
27.8 
33.4 

39.8 
39.9 

Per  cent. 
48.6 
38.6 

4L6 
40.8 

Per  cent. 
13.7 

520660,520668... 
Light  phase: 
520625,520645... 
520026,520646... 

Subsoil 

Soil 

15.7 
11.4 

Subsoil 

15.0 

The  fallowing  samples  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOa):  No.  520625, 
40.63  per  cent;  No.  520646,  7.04  per  cent;  No.  520659,  3.61  per  cent;  No.  520668,  51.38  per  cent;  No.  520667, 
13.88  per  cent;  No.  520668,  42.54  per  cent. 

MILLVILLE    SILTY    CLAY   LOAM. 

The  Millville  silty  clay  loam,  to  a  depth  of  12  to  22  inches,  consists 
of  a  smooth-textured,  friable  medium-brown  to  rather  dark  brown 
siltv  clay  loam.  The  subsoil  is  a  reddish  to  pinkish-gray  or  brown 
clay,  grading  into  a  light  yellowish  gray  clay  as  depth  increases,  the 
lighter  color  being  due  to  the  higher  lime  content.  In  some  places 
the  subsoil  at  about  5  feet  is  underlain  by  a  gravelly  loam,  but  in  most 
places  it  extends  to  and  beyond  the  profile  limit  of  6  feet. 

Usually  the  Millville  silty  clay  loam  is  the  lowest  of  the  foot-slope 
soils,  though  it  may  occur  midway  up  the  slopes.  Only  a  few  small 
bodies  are  found.  These  lie  along  the  east  side  of  the  valley.  "\^Tiere 
located  on  a  good  slope  the  land  is  moderately  drained  to  well  drained 
and  free  from  alkali.  The  surface  of  the  type  is  generally  uniform. 
Frequently  areas  occupy  slight  depressions,  and  in  some  of  these, 
where  the  water  table  is  near  the  surface,  a  little  alkali  is  found. 
Uncultivated  areas  of  this  type  support  a  fair  growth  of  grasses, 
with  some  sagebrush. 

Where  farmed  it  is  used  for  the  production  of  small  grains,  alfalfa, 
and  sugar  beets,  to  which  it  is  well  suited. 

Land  of  this  type  sells  for  $75  to  $150  an  acre,  depending  upon  its 
drainage  and  location. 

Eesults  of  mechanical  analyses  are  given  below : 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Millville  silty  clay  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

sut. 

Clay. 

520663 

Soil 

Per  cent. 

0.1 

.1 

Per  cent. 

0.6 

.5 

Per  cent. 
0.5 

.8 

Per  cent. 
1.4 
2.2 

Per  cent. 
8.6 
9.7 

Per  cent. 
63.5 
55.7 

Per  cent. 
25.2 

520664 

Subsoil 

31.1 

The  following  samples  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOs):  No.  520663, 
1.68  per  cent;  No.  520664,  27.20  per  cent. 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    CACHE    VALLEY   AREA,    UTAH. 


Pbeston  Series. 


43 


The  types  included  in  the  Preston  series  have  light-brown  surface 
soils  and  3'ellowish-brown  subsoils.  The  soils  consist  of  wind-laid 
deposits  occupying  valley  plains,  the  materials  forming  the  'deposits 
having  been  originally  laid  down  in  lakes  or  by  streams.  The 
topography  is  imdulating  as  the  result  of  drifting.  In  the  areas  so 
far  encountered  the  soil  material  is  open  and  porous,  drainage  is 
excessive,  and  the  soils  droughty. 


PEESTON    FINE    SAND. 


The  Preston  fine  sand  consists  of  about  20  inches  of  medium-brown 
to  light-brown  fine  sand,  grading  into  a  yellowish-brown  fine  sand 
extending  to  many  feet  in  depth.  The  soil  and  subsoil  material  is 
low  in  humus  and  porous  in  structure.    In  most  places  it  drifts. 

Only  one  small  body  of  this  soil  occurs  in  the  valley.  It  is  situ- 
ated near  Cornish,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  survey.  It  supports 
a  scant  growth  of  sage  and  rabbit  bush.  The  surface  is  undulating 
to  low  rolling  and  drifted.  "^Alien  irrigated  the  soil  assumes  a  better 
physical  condition  and  is  productive.  Early  truck  crops,  potatoes, 
corn,  alfalfa,  and  alfalfa  seed,  and  cherries  of  the  sour  varieties  are 
some  of  the  successful  crops. 

The  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  the  soil  and  sub- 
soil follow : 

Mechanical  analy.^es  of  Preston  fine  sand. 


Number. 

Bescription. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

520697 

Soil 

Per  cent. 

0.0 

.0 

Per  cent. 

0.4 

.5 

Per  cent. 
4.0 
5.9 

Per  cent. 

67.7 
72.2 

Per  cent. 
18.3 
12.8 

Per  cent. 
6.1 
4.5 

Per  cent. 
3.2 
3.7 

520698 

Subsoil 

The  following  sample  contaiaed  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOj):  No.  520698, 
2.06  per  cent. 

Richmond  Series. 

The  soils  of  the  Richmond  series  are  gray  to  dark  gray  and  the 
subsoils  gray  to  yellowish  gray.  The  substratum  consists  of  bedrock, 
which  occurs  at  depths  varying  from  a  few  inches  to  6  feet  or  more. 
In  shallow  areas  the  material  is  generally  quite  uniform  in  color  and 
texture  down  to  the  parent  rock,  but  in  places  where  it  is  deep  the 
material  from  2  feet  down  is  lighter  in  color  and  more  limy  than  the 
surface  soil. 

The  Richmond  soils  are  derived  from  various  limestone  formations 
through  the  processes  of  weathering. 

In  the  Cache  Valley  most  of  the  residual  soils  have  been  classed 
with  the  Richmond  series,  and  a  few  minor  areas  of  soils  derived  from 
rocks  other  than  limestone  have  been  included  with  the  series. 


44 


FIELD  OPERATIONS    OF    THE   BUREAU    OF    SOILS,  1913. 


Ult'UMO.M)    (iRAVELLY    LOAM. 

The  Richmond  gravelly  loam  consists  of  a  medium-gray  or  rather 
dark  gray  or  yellowish-gray  light-textured  loam  4  to  36  inches  deep, 
containing  varying  amounts  of  gravel.  The  subsoil  is  a  light-gray 
to  light  yellowish  gray,  compact  gravelly  loam  or  clay  loam.  In 
gulches  and  small  hollows  the  soil  and  subsoil  are  frequently  deeper 
than  6  feet,  but  in  such  places  the  material  is  partly  colluvial  or 
alluvial.  Generally  the  soil  and  subsoil  become  somewhat  lighter 
in  color  with  increase  in  depth.  Bedrock  in  most  places  is  reached 
at  48  inches  or  less.  Gravel  is  present  in  large  quantities.  It  usually 
consists  of  angular  to  subangular  fragments  of  limestone. 

The  Richmond  gravelly  loam  occurs  in  a  number  of  strips  along 
the  eastern  margin  of  the  valley,  but  is  of  small  extent.  It  generally 
occupies  steep  slopes  and  is  marked  by  outcrops  of  the  parent  rocks. 

Drainage  is  excessive  and  the  soil  is  free  from  alkali. 

Sagebrush  and  grass  are  the  only  forms  of  vegetation  existing  on 
this  type  in  its  natural  state.  The  areas  lie  above  the  present  irriga- 
tion canals  and  are  used  only  for  pastures. 

Average  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  the  soil  and  a 
single  analysis  of  the  subsoil  are  given  in  the  following  table: 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Richmond  gravcJhj  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium       Fine 

sand.         sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Sill. 

Clay. 

5206118,5206121... 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
6.8 
4.3 

Per  cent. 
8.7 
6.4 

Per  cent. 
5.7 
5.0 

Per  cent. 
15.3 
13.5 

Per  cent. 
17.6 
19.6 

Per  cent. 
33.7 
32.2 

Per  cent. 
12.5 

5206119 

Subsoil 

19.6 

The  following  samples  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOs):  No.  5206118, 
13.47  per  cent;  No.  5230119,  23.53  per  cent;  No.  5236121,  41.72  per  cent. 

RICHMOND   SILTY   CLAY   LOAM. 


The  Richmond  silty  clay  loam,  to  a  depth  of  6  to  18  inches,  is  a 
well-granulated,  friable,  brownish-gray  to  medium  gray  silty  clay 
loam.  The  underlying  rock  is  found  at  varying  though  relatively 
shallow  depths.  "Where  the  subsoil  occurs  it  is  light  yellowish  gray 
or  pinkish  in  color,  highly  calcareous,  and  slightly  heavier  than  the 
soil,  the  difference  increasing  with  depth,  but  in  places  it  has  about 
the  same  texture  as  the  surface  material.  Generally  the  soil  material 
overlying  the  limestone  bedrock  is  not  more  than  60  inches  deep,  but 
in  slight  valleys  and  ravines  it  may  extend  to  more  than  6  feet  deep. 
Both  soil  and  subsoil  contain  varying  quantities  of  subangular  gravel 
and  stones. 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    CACHE    VALLEY   AREA,   UTAH, 


45 


This  type  occupies  the  moderate  to  steep  and  rolling  mountain  foot 
slopes  marginal  to  the  valley  floor.  This  position  makes  it  well 
drained  and  free  from  alkali. 

In  its  native  state  the  type  supports  a  moderate  growth  of  bunch 
grass  and  some  sagebrush.  In  many  places  the  type  is  too  rough 
and  irregular  for  tillage  and  is  generally  utilized  for  pasture.  Else- 
Avhere  it  is  tilled  with  moderate  difficulty,  side-hill  plows  being  gen- 
erally used.  Dry-farmed  grain  is  the  main  cultivated  crop.  The 
type  holds  moisture  well  and  where  the  soil  body  is  5  feet  deep  good 
yields  are  produced. 

Land  of  the  Richmond  silty  clay  loam  sells  for  $10  to  $35  an  acre, 
depending  upon  the  location  and  its  suitability  for  crop  production. 

The  texture  of  the  soil  and  subsoil  as  indicated  by  mechanical 
analyses  is  shown  in  the  table  which  follows : 

Mechanical  analyse.'}  of  Richmond  siltij  cinii  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

iledium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

5206129 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
1.4 
1.0 

Per  cent. 
2.4 

1.2 

Per  cent. 
L7 
1.0 

Per  cent. 
5.1 

4.0 

Per  cent. 
14.2 

1-1.2 

Per  cent. 
55.1 

52.8 

Per  cent. 
20.3 

5206130 

Subsoil 

2.5.9 

The  following  samples  contained  more  than  on&-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOj):  No.  5206129, 
3.04  per  cent;  No.  5206130,  24.02  per  cent. 

Blackrock  Series. 

The  soil  of  the  Blacla-ock  series  is  medium  gray  to  light  gray  or 
yellowish  gray.  The  subsoil  is  light  gray  or  yellowish  gray  and 
calcareous.  The  series  is  underlain  usually  within  the  G-foot  section 
by  limestone  rock,  from  which  the  soil  materials  are  derived.  The  sub- 
soil is  sometimes  wanting,  the  surface  soil  resting  on  bedrock.  Rock 
outcrop  occurs  in  places  and  fragmental  rock  frequently  in  both  soil 
and  subsoil.  Soft  and  usually  impure  Tertiary  limestones  and  marls 
supply  the  materials  to  form  the  series  of  soils.  The  topography  is 
rolling  to  steep,  drainage  excessive,  and  the  soils  free  from  alkali. 

As  mapped  the  soils  of  the  series  include  small  undifferentiated 
areas  of  alluvial  and  colluvial  material.  Little  quartzite  or  sandstone 
is  present  in  the  limestone  gi^  ing  these  soils,  and  it  erodes  readily, 
forming  rounded  hills  and  ridges. 

The  soils  covering  one  small  hill  of  oolitic  limestone,  a  mile  west 
of  Xewton,  and  another  similar  outcrop  l\  miles  slightly  southeast 
of  Cache  Junction,  have  been  included  in  this  series  because  of  the 
close  approach  of  the  soil  to  the  typical  Blackrock  material. 


46 


FIELD   OPEKATIONS   OF   THE   BUEEAU   OF    SOILS,  1913. 


BLACKROCK   GRAVELLY   LOAM. 

The  Blackrock  gravelly  loam  to  a  depth  of  6  to  18  inches  consists 
typically  of  a  medium  to  light-gray  calcareous  loam,  usually  low  in 
humus  and  containing  varying  amounts  of  shaly  limestone  frag- 
ments. "^Aliere  the  underlying  bedrock  is  deeper  than  1  foot  the 
tendency  is  to  form  a  subsoil  heavier  in  texture  than  the  surface 
material.  In  most  places  the  bedrock  occurs  at  a  less  depth  than  60 
inches,  but  in  ravines,  where  material  has  been  washed  in,  the  soil  and 
subsoil  may  extend  below  the  depth  of  6  feet.  The  type  includes,  as 
mapped,  some  undifferentiated  bodies  of  heavier  clay  loam  texture, 
of  somewhat  lighter  gray  or  yellowish-gray  color,  and  higher  lime 
content. 

This  type  occurs  mainly  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  area,  where 
it  occupies  moderate  to  steep  slopes.  It  is  excessively  drained,  free 
from  alkali,  and  supports  a  moderate  to  good  growth  of  grass  and 
bushes. 

The  soil  is  friable  and  absorbs  water  readily,  but  its  prevailing 
steep  topography  and  shallow  depth  cause  excessive  drainage,  and 
the  land  becomes  very  dry  during  the  summer  months.  As  nearly 
all  of  it  lies  above  existing  irrigation  systems,  its  main  value  is  for 
pasturage.  Attempts  have  been  made  to  till  the  deeper  parts,  but  the 
steep  slopes  and  high  content  of  gravel  make  cultivation  difficult. 
Land  of  this  type  brings  from  $10  to  $25  an  acre. 

The  following  table  gives  the  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of 
samples  of  the  soil  and  subsoil  of  this  type : 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Blackrock  gravelly  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

520695 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
2.3 

5.9 

Per  cent. 
3.6 

4.8 

Per  cent . 
2.5 
3.3 

Per  cent. 
11.9 
19.0 

Per  cent. 
22.4 

19.1 

Per  cent. 
41.7 
34.1 

Per  cent. 
15.5 

620696 

Subsoil 

13.6 

The  following  samples  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOs):  No.  520695, 
47.93  per  cent;  No.  520696,  60.65  per  cent. 


Hyrum  Series. 

The  soils  of  the  Hyrum  series  are  medium  gray  to  dark  gray  or 
dark  brownish  gray.  The  subsoils  are  light  gray  to  yellowish  gray 
or  yellowish  brown,  usually  calcareous  and  underlain  by  a  sub- 
stratum of  stratified  gravel,  often  with  pockets  or  lenses  of  inter- 
stratified  sands  and  commonly  incrusted  with  lime.  The  members 
of  this  series  are  derived  from  lake-laid  deposits,  occurring  mainly 
as   terraces    around    extinct   lakes.     Subsequent   to    deposition    the 


SOIL   SURVEY  OF   THE   CACHE   VALLEY  AREA,  UTAH. 


47 


material  has  been  subject  locally  to  some  modification  by  erosion 
and  by  the  addition  of  alluvial  material  in  small  fans  or  by  col- 
luvial  wash.  The  material  is  derived  largely  from  crystalline  lime- 
stone, but  is  more  or  less  mixed  vith  material  from  other  kinds  of 
rocks.  Except  for  local  eroded  areas  the  topography  is  gently  slop- 
ing and  smooth. 

A   prevailingly   dark-gi'ay   color  distinguishes   the   Hj'rum   soils 
from  the  related  Sterling  soils. 


HYBUM   GRAVELLY  FINE   SANDY  LOAM. 

The  Hyrum  gravelly  fine  sandy  loam  consists  of  10  to  20  inches 
of  friable  brownish-gray  or  medium-gra}'  fine  sandy  loam  contain- 
ing a  moderate  to  large  quantity  of  gravel.  The  subsoil  is  a  light 
yellowish  gray  or  gray  gravelly  sand  to  gravelly  fine  sandy  loam, 
extending  to  6  feet  or  more,  and  resting  upon  a  stratum  of  porous 
gravel  many  feet  in  thickness.    The  subsoil  is  calcareous. 

Areas  of  this  soil  lie  on  the  Provo  and  associated  terraces.  They 
are  usually  small  and  surrounded  by  heavier  types.  The  soil  in 
some  cases  forms  the  brow  of  the  terrace,  where  it  breaks  to  the 
valley  below.  It  is  not  an  extensive  type,  and,  Avith  the  exception 
of  one  important  body  near  Newton,  is  confined  to  the  east  and 
south  parts  of  the  valley. 

Most  of  the  areas  have  a  nearly  level  to  gently  sloping  surface. 
The  large  bod}^  occurring  near  Newton  is  more  rolling.  The  soil  is 
favorably  situated  for  irrigation,  and  needs  little  or  no  preparation 
before  water  can  be  applied.  Like  the  Sterling  soils,  it  is  well 
drained  and  free  from  alkali. 

In  its  native  state  the  type  supports  a  scant  growth  of  sage  and 
grass.  It  now  is  practically  all  under  cultivation  and  is  used  mainly 
for  the  production  of  grain  and  alfalfa.  A  little  fruit  is  produced 
also,  and  this  industry  is  increasing  in  importance.  Land  of  this 
type  sells  for  $50  to  $150  an  acre. 

Average  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  soil  and 
subsoil  are  given  below : 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Hyrum  gravelly  fine  sandy  loam. 
[Fine  earth.] 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

520616,520674 

520617,520675 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
5.1 
10.7 

Per  cent. 
10.2 
19.8 

Per  cent. 

7.7 
24.7 

Per  cent. 
18.0 
24.1 

Per  cent. 
17.1 
9.0 

Per  cent. 

29.1 

8.0 

Per  cent. 
12.7 

Subsoil 

3.9 

The  following  samples  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOa):  No.  520616, 
8.72  per  cent;  No.  523617,  42.97  per  cent;  No.  520G74,  5.40  per  cent;  No.  520675, 3.75  per  cent. 


48 


FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF    THE   BUREAU    OF    SOILS,  1913. 


HYBUM   GKAVELLY  LOAM. 

The  Hyriim  gravelly  loam  to  a  depth  of  8  to  20  inches  is  a  medium- 
gray  to  dark-gray  loam  containing  gravel.  The  subsoil  to  G  feet  con- 
sists of  a  gravelh'  loam  to  gravelly  sandy  loam.  Beneath  the  subsoil 
is  found  the  typical  substratum  of  gravel  common  to  the  H3'rum  and 
Sterling  series.  The  subsoil  is  light  gra}'  to  light  yellowish  gray  in 
color  and  extremely  calcareous.  It  is  moderately  open  in  structure 
and  permits  of  the  ready  downward  movement  of  water.  The  gravel 
in  this  tA'pe  is  well  rounded  and  ranges  from  small  to  medium. 

The  type  occurs  along  the  eastern  side  of  the  valley  and  in  the 
southern  part.  It  lies  upon  the  Provo  terrace  and  its  immediate 
slopes.  The  topography  is  smooth  and  uniformly  sloping.  It  is 
thoroughly  to  excessively  drained  and  is  free  from  alkali. 

A  sparse  vegetation,  mainly  sagebrush  and  rabbit  bush  and 
grasses,  is  found  on  the  uncultivated  areas  of  the  type.  Much  of 
the  type  is  under  cultivation,  producing  moderate  to  good  yields 
of  wheat,  oats,  and  alfalfa.  A  large  proportion  of  the  area  covered 
is  irrigated.  It  is  a  suitable  soil  for  orchard  crops  if  care  be  exercised 
in  the  selection  of  sites.  The  rougher,  more  elevated,  and  nonirrigable 
l^ortions  are  suitable  only  for  pasture. 

Land  of  the  Hyrum  gravelly  loam  type  sells  for  $10  to  $100  an 
acre,  depending  upon  the  location,  uniformity  of  the  surface,  and 
the  presence  or  absence  of  facilities  for  irrigation. 

The  average  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  soil  and 
subsoil  are  given  in  the  following  table: 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Ilijruin  gravel! y  loam. 
[Fino  earth.] 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse      Medium       Fine 
sand.         sand.         sand. 

Very  flne 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

520649,       520678, 
520693 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
3.3 

15.7 

Per  cent. 
3.2 

16.9 

Per  cent. 
3.5 

7.4 

Per  cent. 
10.3 

17.3 

Percent. 
16.9 

14.2 

Per  cent. 

46.4 

14.2 

Percent. 
16.1 

520650,       520679, 
520694 

Subsoi! 

7.4 

The  following  samples  contained  more  than  one-halt  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOs):  No.  520649, 
9.61  per  cent;  No.  520553,  4S.13  por  cent;  No.  52M79,  27.31  per  cent;  No.  520693,  13.65  per  cent;  No.  520694, 
49.25  per  cent. 

HYRUM    LOAM. 


Typically  the  Hyrum  loam  is  a  medium-textured,  friable,  medium- 
gray  to  dark-gray  loam  resting  on  a  subsoil  of  gray  to  light  yellowish 
gray  gravelly  loam  to  clay  loam  or  silty  clay  loam.  The  subsoil 
is  high  in  lime  and  has  a  structure  permitting  the  ready  passage  of 
water.     It  rests  upon  the  usual  substratum  of  gravel. 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    CACHE   VALLEY   AREA,   UTAH. 


49 


This  type  is  of  moderate  extent.  It  lies  on  the  Provo  or  similar 
terraces  occurring  at  an  elevation  of  100  to  300  feet  above  the  valley 
floor.    It  is  most  typically  and  extensively  developed  near  Paradise. 

The  type  has  a  smooth,  uniform,  level,  or  gently  sloping  surface, 
and  requires  little  or  no  preparation  for  irrigation.  It  is  well  drained 
and  free  from  alkali  and  all  under  cultivation.  It  produces  heavy 
yields  of  alfalfa,  grain,  and  sugar  beets.  Land  of  this  type  sells  for 
$150  to  $250  an  acre. 

The  average  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  the  soil 
and  subsoil  are  given  in  the  following  table: 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Ilyrum  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine         Coarse 
gravel.        sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

sut. 

Clay. 

520633,520653 

520634,520654 

Soil 

Percent. 
0.9 

■ 

Per  cent. 
2.9 
1.0 

Per  cent. 
2.8 
2.0 

Per  cent. 

7.9 

10.3 

Per  cent. 
24.1 
26.7 

Per  cent. 
44.6 
38.0 

Per  cent. 
16.6 

Subsoil 

23.5 

The  follo'.ving  samples  contained  more  than  ono-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOs):  No.  520634, 
25.S6  per  cent;  No.  520054,  4.68  per  cent. 

HYRUM    SILT    LOAM. 


The  Hyrum  silt  loam  to  a  depth  of  12  to  22  inches  consists  of  an 
open-structured,  friable,  granular  silt  loam  of  medium-gray  or 
brownish-gray  color.  The  subsoil  is  a  calcareous  clay  loam  of  per- 
meable structure,  containing  some  gravel  in  places  and  light  gray  to 
light  yellowish  gray  in  color.  The  typical  substratum  of  porous 
gravel  is  present. 

The  type  occurs  in  a  very  few  small  bodies  on  the  Provo  terrace 
along  the  east  and  southeastern  sides  of  the  valley.  It  has  a  smooth, 
uniform  surface  and  requires  no  preparation  for  irrigation.  The 
type  is  well  drained  and  is  not  affected  with  alkali. 

In  its  native  state  the  type  supports  a  small  growth  of  sagebrush 
and  other  desert  shrubs  and  grass.  It  is  all  farmed  under  irrigation, 
being  used  for  the  production  of  small  grains,  alfalfa,  and  sugar 
beets.  It  is  a  suitable  soil  for  growing  tree  and  vine  fruits,  beans, 
and  onions  and  other  vegetables.  With  proper  care  it  produces  heavy 
yields. 

Land  composed  of  the  Hyrum  silt  loam  sells  for  $100  to  $250  an 
acre,  with  water  rights. 

72130°— 15 ± 


60 


FIELD  OPERATIONS   OF   THE  BUREAU    OF    SOILS,  1913. 


The  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  the  soil  and  sub- 
soil follow : 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Hyrum  silt  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

520641 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
0.4 
1.6 

Per  cent. 
0.5 
3.2 

Per  cent. 
0.5 
1.7 

Per  cent. 
2.1 
4.4 

Per  cent. 
17.1 
19.9 

Per  cent. 
62.1 
45.2 

Percent. 
17.3 

520642 

Subsoil 

24.2 

Salt  Lake  Series. 

The  soil  of  the  Salt  Lake  series  is  dark  gray  to  black.  The  sub- 
soil is  gray  to  pinkish  gray,  heavy,  compact,  and  calcareous.  The 
substratum  consists  of  deep  deposits  of  lake  sediments  of  light-gray 
or  pinkish-gray  color,  similar  to  those  occurring  as  a  substratum  of 
the  Trenton  and  Cache  series. 

The  Salt  Lake  series  is  derived  from  lake-laid  sediments  occupying 
the  lower,  often  recently  exposed,  beds  of  lakes  of  the  Bonneville  or 
similar  basins.  The  materials  are  of  mixed  derivation.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  series,  which  are  generally  without  gravel,  occupy 
low-lying  flat  or  very  gently  sloping  plains  of  uniform  surface, 
except  w^here  marked  by  sloughs  or  lagoons.  Drainage  is  usually 
imperfectly  developed  and  areas  of  barren  character  with  a  high 
water  table  and  excessive  accumulations  of  alkali  salts  are  frequent. 

In  Cache  Valley  the  soils  of  this  series  are  usually  associated  with 
the  soils  of  the  Trenton  and  the  Cache  series,  from  which  they  are 
distinguished  by  the  dark  color  of  the  surface  soil. 

SAXT  LAKE  LOAM. 

The  Salt  Lake  loam  to  a  depth  of  12  to  20  inches  consists  of  a- 
medium  to  dark  gray  loam,  containing  a  relatively  large  proportion 
of  very  fine  sand  and  approaching  a  silt  loam  in  texture.  This  is 
underlain  by  a  clay  loam  to  loam  subsoil,  extending  to  6  feet  or  more. 
In  color  the  subsoil  ranges  from  a  medium  gray  to  light  yellowish 
gray  or  pinkish  gray.  It  is  high  in  lime.  A  substratum  of  pinkish 
lake-laid  clays  and  silts  occurs  below  the  subsoil. 

A  few  bodies  of  this  soil  of  moderate  to  small  extent  are  mapped 
in  the  eastern  and  south-central  parts  of  the  area  surveyed.  They 
have  a  uniform,  gently  sloping  surface,  broken  only  by  an  occasional 
small  creek  or  depression.  Drainage  is  more  or  less  imperfect  and 
the  water  table  lies  near  the  surface.  There  is  usually  sufficient  fall 
to  make  artificial  drainage  effective. 

Small,  depressed  areas,  in  which  the  movement  of  water  is  slow, 
have  become  strongly  impregnated  with  alkali.  Sodium  carbonate 
or  black  alkali  is  a  prominent  salt  in  such  accumulations. 


I 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    CACHE   VALLEY   AREA,   UTAH. 


51 


This  type  has  been  mainly  used  as  pasture  and  in  the  production 
of  wild  and  cultivated  hay.  In  places  where  sufficiently  drained 
and  properly  farmed  it  produces  heavy  yields  of  the  general  farm 
and  truck  crops. 

Land  of  this  type  sells  for  $100  to  $250  an  acre,  depending  upon 
the  drainage  and  location.  It  is  too  poorly  drained  in  most  places 
for  residence.  Many  springs  of  good  water  occur  and  artesian  water 
is  available  over  much  of  the  area. 

The  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  soil  and  subsoil 
are  given  in  the  following  table: 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Salt  Lake  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

sut. 

Clay. 

52061S 

Soil 

Per  cent. 

0.0 

.0 

Per  cent. 

0.2 

■    .9 

Per  cent. 
0.9 
2.5 

Per  cent. 

8.2 
8.6 

Per  cent. 
39.4 
30.8 

Per  cent. 
39.3 
36.5 

Per  cent. 
12.3 

520619 

Subsoil 

90  7 

The  following  sample  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOa):  No.  520618, 
3.93  per  cent. 

SALT    LAKE    SILT    LOAM. 

The  Salt  Lake  silt  loam  consists  of  a  dark-gray  to  nearly  black 
fine-textured  loam  from  20  to  36  inches  deep,  underlain  by  a  light 
brownish  gray  or  light  yellowish  gray  to  medium-gray  silty  clay 
loam  or  silty  clay.  The  surface  soil  contains  much  organic  matter 
and  the  subsoil  much  lime.  A  substratum  of  fine  lake-laid  sedi- 
ments, mostly  of  silt  and  clay  of  pinkish  color,  lies  beneath  the  sub- 
soil. 

The  type  is  confined  mainly  to  the  south-central  part  of  the  val- 
ley. Toward  the  middle  of  the  valley  it  has  somewhat  the  charac- 
teristics of  the  Trenton  soils,  into  which  it  gradually  passes.  It  is 
most  typical  along  its  eastern  margin  and  in  the  body  west  of 
Providence. 

This  type  has  a  uniformly  smooth  surface  well  adapted  to  irriga- 
tion. Artesian  water  of  good  quality  may  be  obtained  throughout  its 
area.  A  number  of  springs  and  perennial  streams  occur  on  it,  and 
the  water  table  lies  near  the  surface  over  much  of  it,  though  little 
damage  occurs  from  water-logging,  except  in  the  flatter  and  more 
level  areas.  In  many  places  it  would  be  materially  benefited  by 
artificial  drainage.  The  shallow  water  table  tends  to  keep  the  soil 
cold  and  holds  crops  back  in  the  spring. 

Small  patches  of  alkali  land  occur  in  some  of  the  low-lying  areas 
of  this  type.  Alkali  is  slowly  increasing  in  concentration  in  the 
low-lying  parts  of  the  type,  and  unless  these  areas  are  drained  in 
the  near  future  considerable  damage  may  result.     Small  to  mod- 


52 


FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUEEAU   OF   SOILS,  1913. 


orate  amounts  of  black  alkali  are  among  the  soluble  salts  found  in 
these  areas. 

A  heavy  growth  of  water-loving  grasses,  with  some  greasewood 
and  salt  grass  where  alkali  is  present,  forms  the  vegetation  on  this 
soil.  Willow  and  various  small  bushes  occur  where  small  streams 
cross  the  type,  but  they  are  confined  to  the  banks  of  the  streams. 

Practically  all  of  the  type  is  utilized  for  farming  or  as  pasture 
land.  On  the  better  drained  portions  of  the  type  excellent  yields 
of  sugar  beets,  potatoes,  small  grains,  and  alfalfa  are  obtained. 
Certain  truck  crops,  among  them  onions,  can  be  grown  successfulh\ 
Corn  for  ensilage  makes  a  heavy  growth. 

The  low-lying  position  makes  the  type  unsuitable  for  residence. 
Land  of  this  type  brings  from  $50  to  $200  an  acre.  It  is  a  com- 
paratively easy  type  to  handle  and  is  well  worth  the  expenditure 
necessary  to  drain  and  reclaim  it. 

The  average  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  soil  and  subsoil 
and  a  single  analysis  of  the  lower  subsoil  are  shown  in  the  following 

table : 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Salt  Lake  silt  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
giavel. 

Coarse 

saud. 

Medium        Fine 
sand.         sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

320620,  520665... 

Soil 

Per  cent. 

0.3 

.1 

.0 

Per  cent. 

0.6 

.5 

.1 

Per  cent.    Per  cent. 

0.7             3.6 

.7             3.4 

.2                .8 

Per  cent. 
19.7 
17.7 
14.1 

Per  cent. 
57.9 
53.3 
61.5 

Per  cent. 
17.0 

520621,520666... 
520622 

Subsoil 

Lower  subsoil . 

24.4 
23.3 

The  following  samples  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate   (CaCOs):  No. 
520665,  37.22  per  cent;  No.  520666,  38.27  per  cent. 


SALT    L.^KE    SILTY    CLAY    LOAM. 


To  a  depth  of  15  to  24  inches  the  Salt  Lake  silty  clay  loam  con- 
sists of  a  fine-textured,  w^ell-granulated,  open-structured  black  silty 
clay  loam.  The  subsoil  is  a  medium  to  light-yellow^ish  or  pinkish- 
gray  calcareous  clay.  A  high  organic-matter  and  lime  content  make 
the  type  friable  and  granular. 

The  type  is  confined  to  a  few  well-defined  bodies  of  considerable 
extent,  lying  in  the  south-central  and  eastern  parts  of  Cache  Valley. 
It  usually  occurs  in  low  flat  places  and  is  moderately  well  to  poorly 
drained.  Its  surface  is  smooth  and  uniform  in  most  places,  but  oc- 
casional small  hummocks  and  depressions  occur.  It  is,  in  places, 
traversed  by  creeks  and  sloughs  and  in  certain  localities  portions  of 
the  soil  areas  are  subject  to  overflow,  temporary  ponds  forming  dur- 
ing wet  periods. 

Alkali  occurs  in  various  places  over  the  type.  Some  black  alkali 
is  present  in  these  accumulations,  but  as  yet  it  is  not  a  serious  menace. 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    CACHE   VALLEY   AREA,   UTAH. 


53 


The  type  supports  a  heaxy  gro^wtli  of  gra.sses,  and  in  wetter  spots 
rushes  and  cat-tails.  "Where  well  drained  it  may  be  used  for  the 
production  of  Avheat,  oats,  sugar  beets,  and  corn.  Because  of  its  wet 
condition  very  little  of  the  type  is  at  present  under  cultivation,  but 
it  furnishes  excellent  pasturage  for  dairy  cows,  and  produces  heavy 
yields  of  hay  when  seeded  to  the  cultivated  grasses. 

Artesian  water  is  available  over  much  of  the  type.  This  water  is 
of  excellent  quality  and  is  present  in  large  quantities. 

No  buildings  appear  on  this  type,  because  of  its  low-lying  position. 
The  land  sells  for  $25  to  $100  an  acre,  the  higher  price  being  paid 
for  the  better-drained  areas  under  cultivation. 

Average  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  the  soil  and 
subsoil  are  given  in  the  following  table: 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Salt  Lake  nilty  clay  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 

sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

520623,  520655 

Soil 

Per  cent. 

0.0 

.0 

Per  cent. 

0.2 

.1 

Per  cent. 

0.7 

.1 

Per  cent. 

2.0 

.5 

Per  cent. 
8.6 
4.2 

Per  cent. 
62.3 

56.8 

Per  cent. 
26.1 

520624,520656 

Subsoil 

38.3 

The  following  samples  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOs):  No. 
520655,  7  per  cent;  No.  520656,  53.56  per  cent. 

Cache  Series. 

The  types  placed  in  the  Cache  series  have  light-gray  to  pinkish 
soils  and  light-pinkish  subsoils.  The  deeper  subsoil  is  often  mottled. 
Both  soil  and  subsoil  material  are  calcareous  and  similar  in  color  and 
general  character  to  the  material  forming  the  subsoils  of  the  Salt 
Lake  and  Trenton  series,  from  which  the  Cache  soils  are  distin- 
guished mainly  by  the  color  of  the  soil.  A  light-pinkish  calcareous 
substratum  of  lake  sediments  of  fine,  compact  character  underlies 
the  subsoil.  The  Cache  soils  are  of  lake-laid  origin,  the  material 
being  of  mixed  derivation.  Drainage  is  poorly  established  and  the 
soil  and  subsoil  are  heavily  impregnated  with  alkali  salts.  Organic 
matter  is  deficient  in  both  the  soil  and  subsoil  and  they  are  usually 
compact  and  intractable. 

CACHE   CLAY. 


Typically  the  Cache  clay  consists  of  a  heavy,  compact,  tenacious 
clay,  light  gray  to  light  yellowish  gray  at  the  surface  and  grading 
rapidly  into  a  pinkish  heavy  clay  below.  From  a  depth  of  about 
2  feet  downward  the  subsoil  changes  to  a  white,  light-gray  or  light 
yellowish  gray,  very  calcareous  clay.  At  5  to  6  feet  the  usual  pink 
lake-bed  material  occurring  as  a  substratum  under  the  soils  of  the 


64 


FIELD  OPERATIONS   OF    THE   BUREAU   OF    SOILS,  1913. 


series  is  found.     The  lower  subsoil  is  generally  mottled  with  red, 
yellow,  green,  and  white  stains. 

One  moderate-sized  and  one  small  area  of  the  Cache  clay  are 
shown  on  the  map,  about  3^  miles  east  of  Newton.  The  type  is  con- 
fined to  the  lower  valley  floor,  and  receives  much  drainage  from  the 
higher  surrounding  soils.  It  is  thus  Avet  much  of  the  time,  and  the 
subsoil  is  saturated  at  all  times. 

The  Cache  clay  is  almost  devoid  of  vegetation.  It  can  be  of  no 
value  until  reclaimed,  and  reclamation  would  be  difficult.  It  sells 
for  $5  to  $8  an  acre. 

A  mechanical  analysis  of  a  sample  of  soil  gave  the  following 
results : 

Mechanical  analysis  of  Cache  clay. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

520611a 

Soil 

PeT  cent. 
0.1 

Per  cent. 

0.2 

Per  cent. 
0.2 

Per  cent. 
0.7 

Per  cent. 
3.7 

Per  cent. 

48.8 

Per  cent. 
46.7 

Mendon  Series. 

The  types  included  in  the  Mendon  series  are  medium  gray  or  dark 
gray  to  black  in  color.  The  subsoil  under  moist  field  conditions  is 
yellowish  gray  or  pinkish  gray,  but  in  the  air-dry  samples  a  neutral 
light-gray  or  ashen-gray  color  prevails.  The  material  is  highly  cal- 
careous and  sometimes  mottled  in  the  lower  part  of  the  soil  section. 
The  series  rests  on  a  substratum  of  light-gray  to  dark-gray  calcareous 
lake  deposits.  The  light-colored  subsoil  and  substratum  frequently 
closely  approach  the  surface  or  outcrop,  producing  characteristic 
light-gray  patches  upon  ridges  and  slopes. 

The  materials  giving  this  series  are  predominantly  recent  alluvial- 
fan  and  alluvial  foot  slope  deposits,  derived  mainly  by  erosion  from 
more  elevated  lake-laid  deposits.  They  include,  however,  some  ma- 
terial coming  directly  from  the  higher  mountain  slopes  and  may 
as  mapped  include  some  undifferentiated  terrace  areas.  ^Vliile  more 
or  less  mixed,  the  material  is  believed  to  be  derived  mainly  from 
limestone.  The  topography  is  comparatively  flat  to  gently  sloping, 
though  some  eroded  or  rolling  areas  occur.  The  surface  drainage 
is  thorough.  The  subdrainage  is,  however,  restricted,  and  local  seep- 
age areas,  where  the  water  table  lies  near  the  surface,  occur.  A  few 
low-lying  bodies  contain  alkali. 


MENDON  FINE  SANDY  LOAM. 


The  Mendon  fine  sandy  loam  is  a  medium-gray,  friable,  light  fine 
sandy  loam,  underlain  to  a  depth  of  about  6  feet  by  a  medium 
yellowish-gray  to  pinkish-gray  or  light-gray  fine  sandy  loam,  grad- 


SOIL   SURVEY   OF    THE   CACHE   VALLEY  AEEA,  UTAH. 


55 


ing  into  a  drab  mottled  calcareous  clay  loam  to  clay.  The  surface 
material  sometimes  has  a  brownish  tint.  At  times  of  high  winds 
the  soil  drifts  slightly.  Varying  quantities  of  fragments  of  light- 
colored  limestone  about  the  size  of  a  grain  of  wheat  are  numerous 
in  some  areas.  In  places  where  the  surface  soil  has  been  eroded 
away  the  gray  calcareous  subsoil  is  exposed. 

The  Mendon  fine  sandy  loam  has  a  small  extent,  the  larger  bodies 
occurring  north  of  Xewton  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Richmond,  and  is 
thoroughly  to  excessively  drained.  It  occupies  moderate  to  very 
gentle  foot  slopes,  the  surface  is  smooth,  and  practically  no  leveling 
is  required  to  prepare  the  land  for  irrigation. 

In  its  native  state  the  tj^pe  supports  a  good  growth  of  grass,  some 
rabbit  bush,  and  a  little  sage  brush.  "N^Tiere  farmed  it  is  used  mainly 
for  dry-farmed  crops  on  account  of  the  scarcity  of  irrigation  water. 
Small  grains  and  alfalfa  seed  are  the  important  crops.  Moderate 
to  good  yields  are  obtained.  With  irrigation  the  type  has  a  much 
wider  range  of  crops  to  which  it  is  suited. 

Land  of  this  type  without  water  sells  for  $35  to  $85  an  acre ;  with 
water  these  prices  are  more  than  doubled. 

Average  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  the  soil  and  subsoil 
and  a  single  analysis  of  the  lower  subsoil  gave  the  following  results : 

Mechanical  analyse.^  of  Mendon  fine  sandy  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

5200111, 5206113. 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
0.3 

.1 

Per  cent. 

0.8 

.6 

.3 

Per  cent. 

3.0 

2.4 

.9 

Per  cent. 
35.4 
39.8 
13.0 

Per  cent. 
25.4 
25.1 
13.2 

Per  cent. 
22.7 
18.9 
43.1 

Per  cent. 
12.0 

5206112, 5206114. 
5206115 

Subsoil 

Lower  subsoil. 

12.9 
29.1 

The  following  samples  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOs):  No. 
5206111,  5.43  per  cent;  No.  5206112,  23.52  per  cent;  No.  5206113,  15.09  per  cent  No.  5206114,  33.45  per  cent 
No.  5206115,  32.43  per  cent. 

MENDON    GRAVELLY    LOAM. 

The  Mendon  gravelly  loam,  to  a  depth  of  10  to  18  inches,  consists 
of  a  medium-gray  to  dark-gray,  sometimes  dark  brownish  gray 
loam  containing  gravel.  The  subsoil  is  a  light  yellowish  gray  grav- 
elly sandy  loam  to  gravelly  clay  loam.  The  gravel  content  is  large 
enough  to  make  tillage  difficult. 

Small  bodies  of  this  soil  occur  on  each  side  of  the  recent  lake  floor. 
The  type  occupies  moderate  to  steep  slopes,  is  usually  excessively 
drained,  and  is  free  from  alkali. 

On  uncultivated  areas  a  moderate  growth  of  grasses,  sage  brush, 
and  rabbit  bush  exists.  "\Aniere  tilled,  small  to  medium  yields  of 
small  grains  and  alfalfa  seed  are  obtained.    The  land  is  mainly  dry- 


66  FIELD  OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU   OF   SOILS,  1913. 

farmed.  Experience  shows  it  to  be  especially  well  adapted  to  the 
production  of  alfalfa  seed,  which  yields  from  5  to  10  bushels  per 
acre  under  favorable  conditions,  and  grain  from  10  to  25  bushels  per 
acre.  In  general,  owing  to  its  limited  extent,  gravel  content,  and 
unfavorable  location  with  regard  to  irrigation,  it  is  of  comparatively 
little  importance.    Land  of  this  type  sells  for  $15  to  $50  an  acre. 

MENDON    LOAM. 

The  surface  soil  of  the  Mendon  loam  consists  of  12  to  22  inches  of 
medium  to  dark-gray  or  black,  smooth-textured  friable  loam.  The 
subsoil  is  a  fine-grained  silty  clay  loam  to  clay  of  a  pinkish  to  light 
yellowish  gray  color,  extending  to  6  feet  or  more  and  underlain  by  a 
stratum  of  fine-textured  lake  deposits.  In  places  where  the  type  is 
flat  or  slightly  depressed  and  not  very  well  drained,  the  subsoil  is 
mottled  with  yellow  iron  stains.  The  lime  content  of  the  subsoil  is 
high  and  the  type  as  a  whole  is  very  retentive  of  moisture.  The  sur- 
face often  contains  small  angular  particles  of  disintegrated  lime- 
stone fragments. 

The  Mendon  loam,  which  is  relatively  extensive,  occurs  mainly 
near  the  base  of  the  mountain  foot  slopes  along  the  west  and  south 
rides  of  the  valley.  One  or  two  bodies  lie  near  Smithfield,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  valley. 

This  soil  has  a  gently  sloping  topography,  its  lower  margin  ad- 
joining the  valley-floor  soils.  In  places  the  type  is  nearly  flat  and 
receives  the  drainage  from  the  higher  surrounding  soils.  Here  a 
high  water  table  and  some  alkali  may  exist. 

In  general  the  origin  of  this  soil  is  as  stated  in  the  series  descrip- 
tion, but  locally  there  are  differences  seen  in  the  soil  which  may  be 
traced  with  reasonable  certainty  to  the  influence  of  particular  rock 
formations.  The  type  is  mainly  derived  from  material  washed  from 
impure  Tertiary  limestone.  As  soon  as  the  higher  and  massive 
Paleozoic  limestones  of  certain  mountain  areas  are  approached  the 
type  changes  in  color,  in  humus  content,  in  texture,  and  in  produc- 
tivity, slowly  grading  into  the  Millville  loam,  which,  though  occu- 
pying similar  positions,  differs  in  its  origin,  color,  texture,  and 
crop  value. 

In  its  native  state  the  type  supports  a  good  growth  of  grasses, 
some  sagebrush,  and  rabbit  bush  on  the  better  drained  parts,  and 
greasewood  on  the  poorly  drained  areas.  Some  black  alkali  occurs 
where  the  drainage  is  poor,  but  such  accumulations  are  not  extensive. 

The  type  is  used  mainly  for  dry-farmed  grain  and  alfalfa  on  the 
west  side  of  the  valley,  and  for  alfalfa,  sugar  beets,  and  small  grains 
along  the  east  side,  where  irrigation  is  practiced.  It  is  all  irrigable 
and  needs  little  or  no  leveling  to  prepare  it  for  irrigation.  Under 
dry-farming  conditions  it  yields  20  to  35  bushels  of  grain  and  5  to  8 


SOIL    SUR\'EY   OF    THE    CACHE    VALLEY   AREA,   UTAH. 


57 


bushels  of  alfalfa  seed  per  acre.  With  irrigation  the  yields  of  grain 
are  nearly  doubled. 

Land  of  this  type  of  soil  sells  for  $25  to  $150  an  acre. 

Average  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  soil  and  sub- 
soil are  given  below : 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Mendon  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

520676,  5206S3 

Soil 

Per  cent. 

0.2 

.1 

Per  cent. 

0.6 

.3 

Per  cent. 
1.1 

1.0 

Per  cent. 

S.4 
5.4 

Per  cent. 
25.8 
15.9 

Per  cent. 
49.1 
50.9 

Per  cent. 
14  4 

520677,520684 

Subsoil 

26.2 

The  following  samples  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOa):  No. 
620676,  40.61  per  cent;  No.  520677,  47.38  per  cent;  No.  52068.3,  1.56  per  cent;  No.  5206S4,  41.50  per  cent. 

MENDON    CXAY    LOAM. 

The  Mendon  clay  loam  consists  of  a  medium  dark  gray  or  nearly 
black  friable  rather  silty  clay  loam.  The  subsoil  consists  of  a  dense, 
pinkish  to  light  yellowish  gray  calcareous  clay,  in  places  mottled  with 
white  and  yellow.  The  subsoil  is  underlain  by  pinkish  fine-textured 
lake  sediments.  On  ridges  and  knolls  in  many  places  the  subsoil 
is  exposed  at  the  surface,  owing  to  the  removal  of  the  surface  material 
by  erosion.  Such  spots  are  plainly  visible  in  plowed  fields.  They 
range  in  size  from  a  few  square  rods  to  an  acre  or  more. 

Typically  the  Mendon  clay  loam  has  a  high  content  of  organic 
matter,  as  might  be  inferred  from  its  dark  color.  In  many  places 
small  soft  limestone  particles  about  the  size  of  a  wheat  kernel  occur 
in  the  soil  in  moderate  quantities.  This  material  does  not  occur  in 
the  related  Millville  series.  The  subsoil  of  the  Mendon  clay  loam  is 
so  compact  that  roots  and  water  usually  enter  it  with  difficulty. 

The  type  is  an  extensive  one  and  is  developed  mainly  in  the  north- 
western part  of  the  area  surveyed,  with  a  few  smaller  bodies  along 
the  eastern  margin  of  the  valley  in  the  vicinity  of  Cove,  Richmond, 
and  Smithfield. 

Most  of  the  type  occurs  on  the  lower  foot  slopes  and  has  a  fairly 
uniform  topography.  This  position  requires  little  or  no  preparation 
for  irrigation.  Occasional  small  ravines  and  intermittent  stream 
ways  intersect  the  type  on  the  lower  areas,  and  the  higher  lying  por- 
tions of  the  type  are  quite  badly  dissected  and  eroded. 

This  type  is  well  drained  in  most  places  and  is  free  from  alkali, 
except  in  a  very  few  local  patches  near  its  lower  margin.  Excessive 
irrigation  on  the  higher  lying  lands  has  raised  the  water  table  and 
wet  areas  are  slowly  increasing  in  extent. 


58 


FIELD  OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREATT   OF   SOILS,  1913. 


Several  prosperous  towns  are  situated  on  this  type,  and  it  ranks 
high  as  a  general  farming  and  dairy  soil.  The  higher  slopes  and 
much  of  the  lower  lying  areas  are  used  for  dry-farmed  crops.  Wheat 
yields  an  average  of  about  30  bushels  per  acre  under  a  system  of 
summer  fallowing  each  alternate  year.  Alfalfa  yields  from  2  to  4 
tons  of  hay  per  acre,  and  in  dry  years  a  fair  quantity  of  seed.  The 
yields  of  wheat  are  not  increased  under  irrigation,  but  alfalfa 
yields  nearly  double  the  quantity  of  hay.  No  alfalfa  seed  is  pro- 
duced under  irrigation.  With  irrigation  the  range  of  crops  is  greatly 
increased,  and  sugar  beets,  corn,  cabbage,  cauliflower,  plums,  and 
pears  all  do  well.  Potatoes  do  moderately  well,  but  unless  very  care- 
fully handled  and  irrigated  the  tubers  are  knotty  and  irregular. 
Enough  truck  is  grown  on  this  type  for  local  consumption,  but  it  is 
late  in  maturing.    Beans  and  peas  do  especially  well. 

The  roads  over  the  type  are  moderately  good  in  summer  but  cut 
deeply  when  very  dry.  In  wet  weather  they  are  almost  impassable 
at  times.    Land  of  this  type  sells  for  $25  to  $175  an  acre. 

The  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  the  soil  and  sub- 
soil follow : 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Mcndon  clay  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
saud. 

Fine 

sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

5206116 

Soil 

Per  cent. 

0.2 

.0 

Per  cent. 

0.5 

.1 

Per  cent. 
1.7 
.3 

Per  cent. 
6.9 
1.6 

Per  cent. 

14.0 

5.7 

Per  cent. 
51.7 
58.5 

Per  cent. 
25.2 

5206117 

Subsoil 

33.8 

The  following  samples  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOs):  No.  5206116, 
2.45  per  cent;  No.  5206117,  35.4  per  cent. 

MENDON   SILTY  CLAY  LOAM. 


The  surface  soil  of  the  Mendon  silty  clay  loam  consists  of  a  heavy 
though  friable  silty  clay  loam,  dark  gray  to  black  in  color.  The 
subsoil  is  a  light  yellowish  gray,  heavy,  compact  clay  loam  or  clay. 
Small  angular  particles  of  light-colored  fragmentary  limestone  occur 
in  the  soil  as  the  result  of  washing  from  the  higher  slopes. 

The  type  is  not  very  extensive,  occurring  as  a  few  bodies  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  valley  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Cove,  Smithfield, 
and  Richmojid  in  the  northeastern  part.  It  occupies  moderate  to 
gentle  slopes  traversed  by  occasional  small  ravines  and  stream  chan- 
nels. The  topography  is  in  general  favorable  to  irrigation.  The 
higher  lying  areas  are  well  drained  and  free  from  alkali  in  most 
places.  Dry-farmed  crops,  principally  small  grains  and  alfalfa,  are 
grown  with  satisfactory  yields.  This  is  an  excellent  type  for  dry- 
farmed  wheat.    With  even  a  little  irrigation  it  produces  heavy  yields 


SOIL   SURVEY   OF   THE   CACHE  VALLEY  AREA,  UTAH. 


59 


of  alfalfa.  The  first  cutting  of  alfalfa  is  too  heavy  for  good  seed 
production.  The  soil  is  a  general  farming  type  and  makes  good 
land  for  dairying.  The  roads  are  very  heavy  and  almost  impassable 
in  wet  weather,  but  moderately  good  when  dry.  Land  of  this  type 
sells  for  $60  to  $100  an  acre. 

The  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  the  soil  and  sub- 
soil are  given  in  the  following  table : 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Mention  silty  clay  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

520691 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
0.4 

.8 

Per  cent. 
1.1 
.9 

Per  cent. 
1.4 
1.2 

Per  cent. 
5.2 
8.5 

Per  cent. 
17.5 
15.3 

Per  cent. 
50.9 

44.1 

Per  cent. 
23.2 

520692 

Subsoil 

29.3 

The  following  samples  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOa):  No.  520691, 
5.15  per  cent;  No.  520692,  53.9  per  cent. 

Logan   Series. 

The  soils  of  the  Logan  series  are  dark  gray  to  medium  gray  or 
black,  often  with  a  brownish  tint,  and  the  subsoils  medium  gray  to 
light  gray  or  pinkish  gray  and  calcareous.  They  consist  of  recent 
alluvial  dejDosits  occupying  present  river  flood  plains  or  lower  minor 
terraces.  The  materials  are  of  mixed  derivation,  but  that  they  are 
largely  influenced  by  limestone  and  older  unconsolidated  calcareous 
deposits  is  recognized.  Except  for  minor  irregularities  and  the 
presence  of  sloughs  and  stream  channels,  the  surface  is  smooth,  and 
well  adapted  to  irrigation.  Drainage  is  poorly  established  and 
lower  lying  bodies  are  subject  to  overflow.  A  high  Avater  table 
usually  exists,  and  accumulations  of  alkali  may  occur  locally. 

In  origin,  mode  of  formation,  and  topography  the  soils  of  this 
series  as  develor)ed  in  the  Cache  Valley  are  related  to  those  of  the 
Jordan  series.  The  Logan  soils  differ  from  the  latter  in  having  a 
lighter  colored  calcareous  subsoil,  and  less  well-developed  drainage. 

LOGAN    FINE    SAND. 


The  Logan  fine  sand,  to  a  depth  of  12  to  20  inches,  consists  of  a 
light  to  medium-gray  or  sometimes  light  yellowish  brown  fine  sand. 
The  subsoil  is  a  light-gray  to  light  yellowish  gray  fine  sand  to  silty 
loam,  containing  seams  of  fine  sand  or  silt.  The  texture  varies  con- 
siderably from  place  to  place  and  with  the  depth,  depending  upon  the 
velocity  and  volume  of  the  current  of  water  which  deposited  the 
material  in  each  particular  instance. 


60 


FIELD  OPERATIOXS   OF   THE  BUREAU   OF    SOILS,  1913. 


The  type  is  not  extensive  and  is  developed  mainly  along  Bear 
River,  where  it  is  confined  to  the  low,  narrow  river  bottom. 

It  has  very  little  slope,  but  its  surface  is  broken  by  old  channels 
of  the  river  which  have  been  partly  abandoned  and  filled. 

Though  moderately  to  poorly  drained,  but  little  alkali  occurs  in 
this  soil.  This  freedom  is  probably  due  mainly  to  periodical  over- 
flow and  the  ready  passage  of  water  downward  through  the  soil  and 
subsoil. 

In  its  native  state  the  typ^supports  a  moderate  to  heavy  growth  of 
brush,  willow,  and  hawberry.  Part  of  this  land  is  used  for  pastures 
and  part  is  farmed  to  grain,  alfalfa,  sugar  beets,  and  potatoes.  With 
good  care  excellent  yields  are  obtained.  Early  maturing  truck 
crops  thrive.  "With  a  moderate  amount  of  leveling  the  type  is  well 
adapted  to  irrigation. 

Land  of  this  type  brings  from  $25  to  $125  an  acre,  depending  upon 
the  location,  freedom  from  brush,  and  uniformity  of  the  surface. 

The  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  the  soil  and  sub- 
soil are  given  in  the  following  table: 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Logan  fine  sand. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

5206127 

Soil 

Per  cent. 

0.1 

.0 

Percent. 

0.3 

.2 

Per  cent. 
1.4 
.6 

Per  cent. 
47.3 
46.0 

Per  cent. 
28.0 
38.1 

Per  cent. 
13.4 

8.4 

Per  cent. 
9.1 

5200128 

Subsoil 

6.7 

The  following  samples  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonatfi  (CaCOs):  No.  5206127, 
14.05  per  cent;  No.  5206123, 18.75  per  cent. 


LOGAX     GRAVELLY    FINE     SANDY    LOAM. 


The  Logan  gravelly  fine  sandy  loam  consists  of  12  to  24  inches 
of  dark-gray,  fine-textured,  friaWe  sandy  loam  containing  varying 
quantities  of  gravel.  The  subsoil  is  a  medium  to  light-gray  gravel 
or  gravelly  fine  sandy  loam  to  gravelly  loam  to  a  depth  of  6  feet  or 
more. 

But  little  of  this  soil  occurs  in  Cache  Valley.  It  is  confined  to  a 
few  small  bodies  near  Logan  and  southward  from  Millville  to  a 
point  east  of  Hyrum. 

The  type  has  a  uniformly  smooth  surface  favorable  to  irrigation. 
It  drains  readily,  but  on  account  of  its  low-lying  position  and  near- 
ness to  streams  and  because  of  the  excessive  irrigation  practiced  on 
near-by  soils,  it  has  a  high  water  table.     No  alkali  occurs. 

The  type  is  a  very  good  general  purpose  soil.  It  gives  large  yields 
of  small  fruits  and  vegetables.  Land  of  this  type  sells  for  $50  to 
$100  an  acre. 


SOIL   SURVEY   OF   THE   CACHE   VALLEY  AREA,   UTAH. 


61 


A  mechanical   analysis  of   a  sample  of  soil  gave  the  foUowini,^ 
results : 

Mechanical  anali/.sis  of  Logan  ftraveUy  fine  sandy  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

5206122 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
4.2 

Per  cent. 
6.1 

Per  cent. 
6.5 

Per  cent. 
23.8 

Per  cent. 
22.2 

Per  cent. 
26.4 

Per  cent. 
10  5 

The  folio  .viaj  sample  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOs);  No.  5206122, 
38.9  per  cent. 

LOGAN    LOAM. 

The  Logan  loam  consists  of  a  smooth,  moderately  well  granulated 
medium  to  dark-gray  loam,  12  to  22  inches  deep,  underlain  by  a 
medium-gray  compact  to  pervious  silty  clay  to  silt  loam.  The  soil 
and  subsoil  vary  considerably  and  may  contain  small  bodies  of  clay 
or  silt  or  fine  sand  too  small  to  separate  on  a  map  of  the  scale  used 
in  this  survey. 

This  is  the  second  most  extensive  of  the  Logan  soils.  It  has  a 
smooth,  uniform  surface  and  in  many  places  is  wet  and  swampy;  but 
'.cry  little  alkali  is  present. 

In  its  natural  condition  the  type  supports  a  heavy  growth  of  grass, 
Ijrush,  and  willow. 

Most  of  the  land  is  used  for  hay  production  and  as  pasture.  "WTiere 
well  drained  it  gives  good  crops  of  small  grains,  alfalfa,  sugar  beets, 
l)otatoes,  asparagus,  onions,  cabbage,  and  cauliflower.  (See  PI.  IV.) 
A^'^hen  sown  to  timoth}'^  and  redtop  it  produces  heavy  yields  of  excel- 
lent hay.  The  type  is  suitable  for  dairying,  and  sells  for  $35  to  $100 
an  acre. 

The  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  soil  and  subsoil 
are  given  in  the  following  table : 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Logan  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 

sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

520C123 

Soil 

Per  cent. 

0.0 

.0 

Per  cent. 

0.4 

.2 

Per  cent. 

0.8 

.2 

Per  cent. 
12.5 

4.9 

Per  cent. 
25.5 
17.0 

Per  cent. 
42.8 
48.9 

Percent. 

18.2 

5206124 

Subsoil 

29.0 

The  folloTinj  samples  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOs):  No.  5206123, 
25.5  per  cent;  No.  5206124,  21.79  per  cent. 


LOOAN    SILT   LOAM. 


The  Logan  silt  loam  consists  of  a  friable  silt  loam  from  12  to  22 
inches  in  depth.     Typically  the  surface  soil  ranges  from  medium 


62  FIELD  OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUEEAU   OF    SOILS,  1913. 

frray  to  dark  gray,  but  as  mapped  in  Cache  Valley  much  of  the  soil 
is  lighter  gray  or  yellowish  gray  or  has  a  light-hrownish  tint.  The 
subsoil  is  a  very  fine  sandy  loam  to  silty  clay  loam  extending  to  a 
depth  of  6  feet  or  more.  The  subsoil  has  an  open  structure  and  is 
easily  penetrated  by  roots  and  water. 

A  few  small  bodies  of  the  Logan  silt  loam  are  mapped  in  the 
Cache  Valley.  They  lie  along  Bear  River  and  the  other  larger 
streams  of  the  valley.  These  areas  are  low  lying  and  have  a  nearly 
level,  uniform  surface  well  suited  to  irrigation.  Some  of  the  areas 
are  inadequately  drained,  and  in  these  a  small  amount  of  alkali 
occurs. 

Brush  of  different  kinds,  willow,  and  vines  form  the  natural  vege- 
tation. Better-drained  areas  are  seeded  to  alfalfa.  Areas  under 
cultivation  are  used  mainly  for  the  production  of  grain.  Potatoes, 
onions,  sugar  beets,  and  other  truck  crops  are  even  more  profitable 
than  the  general  farm  crops.  Little  or  no  irrigation  is  necessary  on 
this  type,  because  of  its  low-lying  position. 

Land  of  this  type  of  soil  sells  for  $35  to  $100  an  acre. 

The  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  soil  and  subsoil 
are  given  in  the  following  table : 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Logan  silt  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

5206125 

Soil 

Per  cent. 

0.0 

.0 

Per  cent. 

0.2 

.1 

Per  cent. 

0.3 

.2 

Per  cent. 
1.3 
19.0 

Per  cent. 
15.2 
46.5 

Per  cent. 
70.6 
25.8 

Per  cent. 
12.6 

6206126 

Subsoil 

8.1 

The  following  samples  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOs):  No.  5206125, 
22.34  per  cent;  No.  5206126,  18.63  per  cent. 

LOGAN    CLAY. 


The  Logan  clay  consists  of  12  to  18  inches  of  a  dark-gray  to 
brownish-gra}^  or  nearly  black  clay,  resting  on  a  subsoil  of  light 
yellowish  gra}^  to  ashy-gray  silty  clay  to  fine  sandy  loam. 

This  is  the  most  extensive  of  the  Logan  soils.  It  lies  in  the  low 
1  iver  bottoms  of  the  larger  streams  of  the  valley. 

It  has  a  uniform  and  nearly  level  surface.  In  many  places  poorly 
drained  and  swampy  areas  exist.  Accumulations  of  alkali  are  found 
in  some  of  these  wet  areas. 

In  its  native  state  the  Logan  clay  supports  a  moderate  to  heavy 
growth  of  grass,  with  some  willow,  sagebrush,  and  other  shrubs  and 
vines.  Well-drained  areas  free  from  alkali  are  used  for  alfalfa  and 
grain  culture.     It  gives  good  yields  of  alfalfa  where  the  water  table 


I 


SOIL   SURVEY   OF   THE   CACHE  VALLEY  AREA,  UTAH. 


63 


is  4  feet  or  more  below  the  surface.  Uncultivated  areas  afford  excel- 
lent pasturage  during  the  summer  months.  Land  of  this  type  sells 
for  $20  to  $75  an  acre. 

The  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  samples  of  soil  and  subsoil 
are  given  in  the  following  table : 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Logan  clay. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Vwyflne 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

5206105 

Soil 

Per  cent. 

0.1 

.2 

Per  cent. 

0.8 

.4 

Per  cent. 
2.7 
.8 

Per  cent. 

9.7 
21.1 

Per  cerU. 

6.3 

36.4 

Per  cent. 
44.5 
29.8 

Per  cent. 
36.3 

5206106 

Subsoil 

11.0 

The  following  samples  contained  more  than  one-half  of  1  per  cent  calcium  carbonate  (CaCOa):  No.  5206105, 
25.93  per  cent;  No.  5206106,  22.29  per  cent. 

miscellaneous  material. 
Rough  Stony  Land. 

Lying  above  the  tillable  mountain  foot  slope  soils  and  surround- 
ing most  of  the  valley  are  extensive  areas  of  land,  badly  dissected  by 
gulches  and  ravines  and  too  steep,  shallow,  and  rocky  for  farming. 
This  has  been  mapped  as  Rough  stony  land.  A  few  bodies  of  this 
type  also  occur  Avithin  the  agricultural  soils  of  the  valley.  The  soil 
types  of  the  Rough  stony  land  were  not  differentiated,  as  this  land  is 
suited  only  to  grazing  and  forestry.  This  material  is  residual.  The 
land  supports  a  moderate  growth  of  grass  and  brush.  It  is  of  little 
value,  bringing  about  $5  to  $15  an  acre. 


IRRIGATION. 

Cache  Valle}'^  has  a  supply  of  water  equal  to  its  needs  if  properly 
used.  The  amount  available  depends  upon  the  depth  of  snowfall  in  the 
mountains,  but  even  when  that  is  light  the  supply  of  water  is  usually 
ample.  Bear,  Logan,  and  Cub  Rivers  and  Blacksmith  Fork  are  the 
main  sources  of  supply,  but  water  from  numerous  perennial  and 
intermittent  creeks,  springs,  and  artesian  wells  is  also  used.  Prac- 
tically no  attempts  have  been  made  to  use  water  pumped  from  wells 
for  irrigation,  but  the  water  supply  could  undoubtedly  be  augmented 
in  this  way. 

The  duty  of  water  in  Cache  Valley  varies  greatly.  Where  plentiful 
it  is  used  extravagantly,  and  where  scarce  it  is  used  economically. 
The  Utah  State  station  at  Logan  found  that  during  July,  1896,  the 
duty  of  water  varied  at  different  places  under  different  conditions 


64  FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU    OF    SOILS,  1913. 

from  89  to  125  acres  for  1  second-foot;  that  is,  1  second-foot  covered 
only  39  acres  in  one  place  and  in  another  125  acres  during  the 
month  of  July.  In  1896  the  duty  of  water  in  Cache  Valley  for  June 
■was  52  acres  per  second-foot  and  in  July  07  acres.  In  August  it  was 
113  acres  and  in  September  166  acres.  The  duty  of  water,  however, 
to  be  of  the  greatest  value,  should  be  ascertained  for  each  of  the 
important  soil  types  of  the  valley. 

There  are  numerous  canal  systems  in  Cache  Valley,  most  of  which 
are  community  ditches  constructed  many  years  ago.  As  early  as 
1897  there  were  118  separate  small  canal  systems.  Since  that  time 
a  few  additional  canals  have,  been  constructed,  chief  among  which 
is  the  West  Cache  Canal.  The  two  Bothwell  canals  take  out  of  Bear 
Eiver  west  of  Cache  Junction,  but  carry  water  to  the  Bear  Kiver 
Valley  only. 

In  the  community  ditch  system  the  landowners  of  a  given  dis- 
trict cooperate  for  the  irrigation  of  their  lands.  The  water  is  diverted 
directly  from  the  rivers  without  any  dam  in  the  channel  in  most 
instances,  and  a  main  canal  carries  the  water  to  the  district  to  be 
irrigated.  The  expenses  of  maintaining  each  system  are  borne  pro- 
portionally, each  landowner  contributing  in  money  and  labor  his 
share  of  keeping  the  canals  in  order.  Very  little  trouble  has  occurred 
yet  in  the  adjustment  of  water  rights  and  the  maintenance  of  the 
canals,  and  although  there  has  been  considerable  loss  of  time  and 
expense  in  useless  duplication  of  canals,  the  water  has  been  obtained 
very  cheaply  and  satisfaction  has  resulted  in  most  instances. 

There  is  one  small  storage  reservoir  in  the  area.  It  is  situated  about 
4  miles  north  of  Newton  and  supplies  that  town  and  the  surrounding 
country  with  water  for  irrigation  purposes.  This  reservoir  was  built 
by  citizens  of  Newton  by  community  labor  and  has  been  in  operation 
for  40  years  or  more.  Poor  flume  construction  has  resulted  in  many 
breaks  and  the  loss  of  the  entire  volume  of  stored  water.  Other- 
wise, the  system  has  proven  satisfactoi'y. 

The  methods  of  irrigation  most  generally  followed  in  the  valley 
are  the  furrow  and  flooding  methods.  The  soils  are  prevailingly 
heavy  and  for  I)est  results  the  shallow  furrow  method  is  used  for 
alfalfa  and  other  general  farm  crops.  For  fruit,  several  deep  fur- 
rows are  made  between  each  two  rows  of  trees  and  a  stream  turned 
into  each  furrow. 

On  the  firm  loams,  silty  clay  loams,  clay  loams,  and  clays  with  a 
generally  uniform  surface  and  slope,  with  an  abundance  of  water,  and 
particularly  if  alfalfa  is  the  main  crop,  the  system  of  flooding  be- 
tween field  ditches  over  long,  narrow  lands  is  the  cheapest  method  of 
irrigation  used  in  the  area.  It  is  not  so  economical  in  the  use  of  water, 
however,  as  is  the  furrow  method.    The  lands  and  ditches  may  be 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    CACHE    VALLEY   AREA,   UTAH.  65 

straight,  or  on  contour  lines  if  the  slope  is  uneven.  In  this  system 
the  land  should  be  sufficiently  level  for  the  water  to  spread  from 
ditch  to  ditch,  and  if  the  lands  are  long  the  water  may  be  turned  in 
at  proper  intervals  from  side  ditches. 

A  very  common  practice  in  the  area  is  to  plow  furrows  at  inter- 
vals of  a  few  rods  through  the  fields  to  be  irrigated.  Small  dams 
are  made  in  the  furrows  at  varying  distances,  depending  upon  the 
uniformity  and  slope  of  the  land  between  the  furrows.  The  water 
is  then  diverted  from  the  head  lateral  into  the  several  furrows  and 
flooded  across  to  the  next  furrow  at  each  dam.  As  soon  as  the 
water  reaches  across  to  the  lower  furrow  the  dam  is  i-emoved  and 
the  water  run  to  the  next  one,  the  operation  being  repeated  until 
the  end  of  the  field  is  reached.  With  this  system  one  can  cover 
from  5  to  10  acres  or  more  per  day,  depending  upon  the  uniformity 
of  the  land  and  the  amount  of  water  available.  This  SA^stem  nudces 
it  possible,  on  the  soils  of  Cache  Valley,  to  irrigate  evenly  without 
giving  the  upper  part  of  the  field  an  excess  in  order  to  reach  the 
lower  end.  This  system  has  given  very  good  satisfaction  in  most 
parts  of  the  valley,  but,  like  other  forms  of  flooding,  is  extrava- 
gant in  the  use  of  water  and  may  seriously  affect  the  physical  condi- 
tion of  the  soil,  although  in  this  region,  with  the  abundance  of  lime 
and  humus  in  the  soils  and  subsoils  and  the  already  excellent  granu- 
lation, flooding  involves  less  risk  than  where  the  lime  and  humus 
content  are  low  and  the  soils  heavy. 

The  light  types  of  the  Trenton  series,  such  as  the  fine  sandy  loam, 
subirrigate  readily,  making  the  application  of  water  an  easy  matter. 
In  such  tj'pes  deep  furrows  are  plowed  throiigh  the  fields,  50  to  200 
feet  apart,  depending  upon  the  physical  properties  of  the  soil,  and 
water  is  simply  run  along  the  furrows.  After  the  lapse  of  some 
time  the  irrigator,  by  digging  into  the  soil  a  foot  or  two,  can  deter- 
mine if  the  soil  moisture  has  met  between  the  furrows  and  when 
this  happens  the  water  is  turned  off.  This  system  is  very  economical 
in  the  use  of  water,  but  unless  care  is  taken  much  damage  to  land 
and  crops  may  result.  The  tendency  has  been  to  apply  too  much 
water. 

DRAINAGE. 

Areas  of  considerable  extent  along  the  east  side  of  the  valley, 
which  were  among  the  choicest  lands,  have,  in  recent  years,  been 
almost  ruined  for  crop  production  by  excessive  irrigation  on  higher 
lands  and  by  waste  and  seepage  from  leaky  canals.  The  evils  of 
overirrigation  are  very  perceptible  now  in  various  localities  about 
Lewiston,  in  the  Trenton  country  and  along  the  east  side  of  the 
valley  from  Hyrum  north  to  the  State  line.  The  water  table  has 
been  sufficiently  raised  in  many  places  to  increase  evaporation  and 
72139°— 15 5 


66  FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF    THE   BUREAU    OF    SOILS,   1913. 

this  has  often  caused  the  deposition  of  alkali  salts  at  the  surface. 
A  number  of  fields  ruined  by  a  high  Avater  table  and  alkali,  which 
but  a  few  j^ears  previously  had  been  among  the  most  productive  in 
their  vicinities,  were  encountered  during  the  survey.  Most  of  the 
damage  has  occurred  in  low  areas  of  level  or  nearly  level  surface 
and  on  areas  lying  near  the  foothills,  where  drainage  from  the  higher 
lands  collects.  There  is  sufficient  fall,  however,  in  nearly  all  parts 
of  the  valle}^  to  remove  the  surplus  waters  if  drainage  ways  are 
provided.  The  most  poorl}^  drained  soils  in  the  area  are  those  of 
the  Salt  Lake,  Trenton,  and  Logan  series,  and  of  the  Millville  and 
Mendon  series  along  their  lower  margin.  In  fact,  the  greater  part 
of  the  valley-floor  soils  will  in  time  become  affected  by  the  rise  in  the 
water  table,  unless  precautions  are  taken  to  prevent  it.  Much  of  the 
land  is  now  bordering  on  this  condition. 

Several  small  fields  along  the  east  side  of  the  valley  have  already 
been  drained  and  excellent  results  obtained.  These  examples  show 
what  may  be  done  in  the  case  of  extensive  areas  of  excellent  land, 
now  almost  useless  on  account  of  their  excess  of  moisture.  Areas 
which  would  be  greatly  benefited  by  drainage  have  been  inclosed  with 
blue  dash  lines  on  the  map.  These  areas  outlined  are  not  now  all 
uncultivable,  but  they  have  at  least  a  shallow  water  table,  and  if  irri- 
gation is  increased  will  soon  need  attention. 

ALKALI. 

Cache  Valley  is  an  old  lake  basin,  the  receding  waters  of  which 
were  drained  away  mainly  through  the  Bear  River  narrows  west  of 
Cache  Junction.  The  last  remnants  of  the  lake  were  evaporated 
from  depressions  too  low  for  drainage,  leaving  their  accumulated 
salts  behind.  The  waters  in  these  depressions  were  undoubtedly 
saline  and,  judging  from  the  composition  of  the  water  of  Great  Salt 
Lake  to-day,  were  mainly  charged  with  sodium  chloride.  Chemical 
examination  should  therefore  show  an  excess  of  sodium  salts,  espe- 
cially the  chloride  in  the  old  lake  depressions. 

The  following  table  gives  the  results  of  analyses  of  two  composite 
samples  of  alkali  crust  taken  in  different  parts  of  the  valley.  No.  12 
represents  a  composite  sample  taken  from  the  big  flat  mapped  as 
Cache  clay  about  3  miles  east  of  Newton.  This  flat  is  still  the  bed 
of  a  shallow  temporary  lake  during  very  wet  periods.  This  area  is 
typical  of  many  of  the  low  flats  occurring  around  the  margin  of 
Great  Salt  Lake  at  the  present  time,  and  it  seems  to  be  a  modified 
remnant  of  one  of  the  slight  depressions  of  the  ancient  lake.  Sam- 
ple No.  25  is  a  composite  of  alkali  crusts  collected  east  and  south  of 
Benson,  where  the  alkali  accumulations  appear  to  be  of  later  date 
and  are  still  forming. 


SOIL   SURVEY   OF   THE   CACHE   VALLEY  AREA,  UTAH. 
Analyses  of  alkali  crusts. 

[Parts  per  100,000.1 


67 


Constituent. 

Sample  No.  12, 
Cache  clay. 

Sample  No.  25. 

Salt  Lake  silty 

clay  loam. 

Ca 

1,524 

312 

13,055 

Trace. 

3,496 

21,056 

80 

None. 

676 

416 

4,933 

Trace. 

9,052 

2,804 

396 

240 

Mg 

Na 

K 

SO4.. 

CI..  . 

HCOj..       . 

CO3.. 

From  the  above  analyses  it  will  be  seen  that  there  is  a  preponder- 
ance of  sodium  chloride  from  the  flat  east  of  Newton  and  a  pre- 
ponderance of  sulphates  and  sodium  carbonate  east  and  south  of 
Benson. 

In  places  where  the  ground  water  is  high  and  its  movement  slug- 
gish, excessive  evaporation  has  caused  the  accumulation  of  excessive 
amounts  of  salts  in  such  areas.  Along  the  east  side  of  the  valley  over- 
irrigation  on  the  uplands  has  been  largely  responsible  for  the  water- 
logged and  alkaline  condition  of  many  of  the  choicest  lands  there. 
'\ATierever  the  water  table  has  risen  sufficiently  excessive  evaporation 
has  deposited  lai'ge  quantities  of  alkali  salts  and  wherever  the  humus 
content  is  moderate  to  high  there  is  a  marked  accumulation  of 
sodium  carbonate  or  black  alkali. 

The  bodies  of  alkali  in  the  Cache  Valley  area  are  scattered  and 
are  usually  small  and  variable.  In  many  of  the  large  bodies  out- 
lined about  half  the  area  is  affected  by  alkali,  the  remainder  being 
nearh^  free.  Here  the  affected  areas  were  too  small  and  numerous 
to  separate  on  a  map  of  the  scale  used  in  this  survey,  so  the  entire 
areas  were  outlined. 

Alkali  lands  are  not  extensive  enough  in  Cache  Valley  to  warrant 
the  construction  of  a  separate  alkali  map,  but  the  affected  areas  are 
outlined  on  the  soil  map  and  indicated  under  two  grades.  The 
areas  marked  with  an  S  are  land  which  contains  numerous  barren 
or  unproductive  alkali  spots,  and  those  marked  A  carry  rather  uni- 
formly an  excess  of  alkali  salts. 

The  area  of  high  water  table  and  alkali  concentration  is  in  many 
places  increasing  as  a  result  of  overirrigation  on  the  higher  lying 
lands.  The  damage  from  this  cause  in  the  course  of  a  few  years 
will  amount  to  a  large  sum,  unless  drainage  systems  are  installed  in 
the  affected  areas.  Lands  which  now  rank  among  the  choicest  of 
the  valley  are  threatened  by  this  danger.     Many  acres  of  valuable 


68  FIELD   OPEKATIOXS   OF    THE   BUEEAU    OF    SOILS,   1913. 

land  have  been  almost  ruined  in  this  way  in  the  last  20  years.  Some 
of  the  more  progressive  farmers  have  already  installed  drainage 
systems,  and  in  practically  all  instances  the  almost  complete  recla- 
mation of  the  affected  land  has  residted. 

A  narrow  belt  of  alkali  land  from  one-fourth  to  one-half  mile 
wide  occurs  just  below  the  AVest  Cache  Canal,  extending  south  from 
a  point  just  west  of  Merrills.  Near  the  center  of  the  valley  the 
entire  area  covered  by  the  Cache  clay  is  very  high  in  alkali  and 
entirely  unfit  for  farming  until  reclaimed.  This  is  the  most  highly 
charged  alkali  area  in  the  valley,  and  it  is  devoid  of  vegetation, 
except  for  an  occasional  alkali  weed.  The  alkali  is  largely  sodium 
chloride,  or  common  salt.  Another  moderately  large  area  occurs 
northwest  of  Logan,  but  the  salt  content  in  this  body  is  very  irregu- 
lar and  spotted.  Most  of  the  other  affected  areas  are  small  and 
occur  as  local  bodies  in  slight  depressions  scattered  over  the  valley 
floor.  The  affected  areas  are  always  associated  with  a  high  water 
table. 

Drainage  is  practicable  in  nearly  ail  affected  areas  and  the  cost 
of  reclamation  should  be  moderate  in  most  instances.  It  is  ques- 
tionable, however,  whether  the  present  price  of  land  would  warrant 
the  reclamation  of  the  Cache  clay  type  on  which  the  fall  is  slight 
and  where  the  cost  would  be  high  both  on  this  account  and  on 
account  of  the  heavy  texture  of  the  soil  and  subsoil. 

In  all  drainage  systems  of  any  consequence,  the  assistance  of  a 
competent  drainage  engineer  should  be  sought,  because  errors  in  con- 
struction may  easily  cause  the  waste  of  much  time  and  money. 

SUMMARY, 

The  Cache  Valley  area  lies  in  northern  Utah  and  in  the  physio- 
graphic province  of  the  Great  Basin,  at  an  average  elevation  of  4.400 
feet  above  sea  level.  It  is  about  40  miles  long,  with  a  greatest  width 
of  about  19  miles,  and  contains  an  area  of  about  450  square  miles. 

The  valley  is  oblong  in  shape,  with  its  greatest  axis  extending 
north  and  south  and  its  greatest  width  at  the  State  boundar3^  It 
is  an  old  lake  basin,  with  an  extensive  level  plain  constituting  the 
valley  floor.  This  is  surrounded  by  mountain  foot  slopes  and  high, 
steep  mountains.    The  drainage  is  through  the  Bear  Eiver. 

The  valley  was  first  settled  about  1850.  A  community  system  of 
organization  exists.  Though  90  to  95  per  cent  of  the  population 
are  engaged  in  farming,  fully  90  per  cent  of  the  inhabitants  live 
in  cities,  towns,  and  villages. 

Most  of  the  work  done  on  farms  is  by  the  owner  and  his  family, 
A  small  area  of  farming  lands  is  operated  by  tenants. 


SOIL   SURVEY   OF   THE   CACHE   VALLEY  AREA,   UTAH.  69 

The  area  is  well  supplied  with  transportation  facilities,  and  no 
part  of  the  valley  is  more  than  8  miles  from  a  railroad.  Loaan  is 
the  county  seat  and  principal  city.  There  are  14  other  thriving  towns 
and  smaller  villages  in  the  area. 

The  mean  annual  temperature  is  47°  F.  The  maximum  summer 
temperature  is  seldom  more  than  95°  F.  The  minimum  for  winter 
occasionally  nears  20°  F.  below  zero.  The  mean  annual  rainfall  is 
about  16  inches.  The  average  date  of  the  last  killing  frost  in  spring 
is  May  10,  and  of  the  earliest  in  autumn,  October  8.  The  prevailing 
winds  are  from  the  southwest. 

Alfalfa  hay,  alfalfa  seed,  small  grains,  sugar  beets,  potatoes,  truck 
crops,  and  fruit  are  among  the  leading  crops.  Dairj'^  products,  hogs, 
poultry  products,  and  honey  are  also  important.  Many  cattle  and 
sheep  are  kept  in  the  surrounding  mountains.  The  raising  of  horses 
has  been  an  important  industry  in  the  valley  for  years.  Most  of 
the  products  of  the  valley  are  shipped  to  distant  markets. 

Dry-farmed  grain  and  alfalfa  are  successfully  grown  in  the  area, 
but  irrigation  is  necessary  for  the  best  returns  of  all  crops  except 
grain. 

The  valley  is  well  watered  and  adapted  to  a  varied  agriculture. 
The  east  side  of  the  valW  is  excellently  adapted  to  apple,  pear,  plum, 
cherry,  and  bush  and  vine  fruit  culture. 

The  area  supports  two  large  sugar  factories  and  four  large  milk 
condenseries,  besides  a  number  of  dairies. 

Some  alkali  occurs  in  low,  poorly-drained  places  over  the  valley 
floor,  and  a  considerable  area  is  in  need  of  drainage. 

Twelve  soil  series  were  encountered  in  the  area  in  addition  to 
the  nonagricultural  type  of  Kough  stonj  land.  The  Richmond 
and  Blackrock  series  are  residual  in  origin  and  embrace  three  types. 
The  soils  of  these  series  occupy  an  elevated  position,  are  sometimes 
badly  dissected  and  rough  in  topography,  and  are  mainly  suited  to 
grazing. 

The  Avon  series  occurs  only  along  the  east  and  south  parts  of 
the  valley.  It  comprises  badly  eroded  heavy  soils  suited  to  grazing 
only,  except  in  a  few  small  areas.  Four  types  of  soil  occur  in  the 
Avon  series. 

Soils  of  the  Sterling  series  lie  on  the  Provo  terrace,  100  to  400  feet 
above  the  valley  floor.  They  are  well  drained  and  suitable  for  fruit 
and  truck  growing  and  general  farming. 

The  Hyrum  series  has  a  location  similar  to  the  Sterling  series  and 
is  a  good  soil  for  the  production  of  the  crops  mentioned. 

The  Mendon  series  of  soils  occurs  mainly  along  the  west  side  of 
the  valley.    The  soils  of  this  series  are  for  the  most  part  well  drained 


70  FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF   THE  BUREAU    OF    SOILS,  1913. 

and  prodiictiA'e,  ranking  high  as  grain  and  alfalfa  soils.  The  series 
includes  eroded  old  narrow  lake  terraces  and  alluvial  foot  slopes. 

The  Millville  series  occupies  a  similar  position  to  that  of  the  Men- 
don  series,  principally  along  the  west  side  of  the  valley.  It  is  a 
good  fruit  soil. 

The  Trenton  series  of  soils  occurs  on  the  valley  floor  and  is  the  most 
extensive  series  of  soils  in  the  area.  Members  of  this  series  at  Lewis- 
ton  and  along  Bear  River  rank  among  the  best  in  the  area  for  sugar 
beets,  alfalfa,  potatoes,  bush  and  vine  fruits,  and  truck  crops.  The 
heavier  tj'^pes  are  better  suited  to  the  production  of  grain  and  alfalfa. 
Considerable  alkali  exists  in  places  and  caution  is  necessary  in  irri- 
gation. 

The  Salt  Lake  series  occurs  along  the  east  and  south-central  parts 
of  the  valley.  In  most  places  the  soils  of  this  series  need  drainage 
and  alkali  is  found  in  low,  flat  areas.  Allien  drained,  the  soils  rank 
high  for  the  production  of  sugar  beets,  onions,  potatoes,  corn, 
alfalfa,  small  grains,  and  late  truck.  Bush  and  vine  fruits  also 
thrive. 

The  Logan  soils  are  moderately  well  to  poorly  drained.  Potatoes, 
sugar  beets,  small  gi-ain,  alfalfa,  and  truck  crops  give  good  yields 
on  properly  drained  areas. 

The  Cache  series  is  represented  by  one  type  only,  the  Cache  clay. 
It  is  located  in  the  low,  flat  parts  of  the  valley  floor,  runs  high  in 
alkali,  and  except  for  an  occasional  alkali  weed  is  devoid  of  vege- 
tation.   Drainage  is  necessary  before  it  can  be  used  for  agriculture. 

The  Preston  fine  sand  is  a  very  inextensive  but  productive  soil. 

The  Rough  stony  land  for  the  most  part  occurs  on  the  mountain 
slopes  above  the  agricultural  soils.  The  land  was  not  differentiated 
into  soil  types  because  oi  its  lack  of  importance  to  agriculture.  It  is 
used  for  pastures. 

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[I'uBr.ic  Rioson'TioN — No.  9.] 

JOINT  RESOLUTION  Amending  public  resolution  numbered  eight,  Fifty-sixth  Congress, 
second  session,  approvod  Fel)ruary  twenty-third,  nineteen  hundred  and  one,  "  providing 
for  the  printing  annually  of  the  report  on  field  operations  of  the  Division  of  Soils, 
Department  of  Agriculture."' 

Resolved  hy  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States  of 
Atiicrira  in  Vonyress  assembled,  That  imblic  resolution  nuuibered  eight,  Fifty- 
sixth  Congress,  second  session,  approved  Fel)ruary  twenty-third,  nineteen  him- 
dred  and  one,  be  amended  by  striking  out  all  after  the  resolving  clause  and 
insertiiiir  in  lieu  thereof  the  following: 

That  there  shall  be  printed  ten  thousand  five  hundred  copies  of  the  report  on 
field  operation.s  of  the  Division  of  Soils.  Department  of  Agriculture,  of  which 
one  thousand  five  hundred  copies  shall  be  for  the  use  of  the  Senate,  three  thou- 
sand copies  for  the  use  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  six  thousand  cojties 
fur  the  use  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture :  Provided,  That  in  addition  to  the 
number  of  copies  above  provided  for  there  shall  be  printed,  as  soon  as  the  manu- 
script caii  be  prepared,  with  the  necessary  maps  and  illustrations  to  accompany 
it,  a  report  on  each  area  surveyed,  in  the  form  of  advance  sheets,  bound  in 
paper  covers,  of  which  five  hundred  co^iies  shall  be  for  the  use  of  each  Senator 
from  the  State,  two  thousand  copies  for  the  use  of  each  Representative  for  the 
congressional  district  or  districts  in  which  the  survey  is  made,  and  one  thousand 
copies  for  the  use  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture. 

Approved,  ^lareh  14,  1!)04. 

[On  July  1,  lyoi,  the  Division  of  Soils  was  reorganized  as  the  Bureau  of  Soils.] 


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Areas  surveyed  in  Utah. 


